1. Scope and purpose
This revised guidance concerns use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health and social care workers, in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. It supersedes previous PPE guidance. This guidance relates solely to considerations of PPE, represents one section of infection prevention and control guidance for COVID-19 and should be used in conjunction with local policies.
Refer to further guidance and resources.
This guidance is issued jointly by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Public Health Wales (PHW), Public Health Agency (PHA) Northern Ireland, Health Protection Scotland (HPS), Public Health England and NHS England as official guidance. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has also reviewed the PPE guidance and have agreed the appropriate sessional use of PPE. Expert reviews and advice from the DHSC New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) inform this guidance.
2. Rationale for updated guidance
This guidance has been updated to reflect pandemic evolution and the changing level of risk of healthcare exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the UK. It is recognised that in contexts where SARS-CoV-2 is circulating in the community at high rates, health and social care workers may be subject to repeated risk of contact and droplet transmission during their daily work. It is also understood that in routine work there may be challenges in establishing whether patients and individuals meet the case definition for COVID-19 prior to a face-to-face assessment or care episode.
Certain work environments and procedures convey higher risk of transmission and aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) present risk of aerosolised transmission. This guidance therefore seeks to set out clear and actionable recommendations on the use of PPE, as part of safe systems of working, for health and social care workers relative to their day-to-day work. Incidence of COVID-19 varies across the UK and risk is not uniform and so elements of the updated guidance are intended for interpretation and application dependant on local assessment of risk.
This guidance is also updated to reflect the need for enhanced protection of patients in vulnerable groups undergoing shielding.
3. Main changes to previous guidance
The main changes are:
- enhanced PPE recommendations for a wide range of health and social care contexts
- inclusion of individual and organisational risk assessment at local level to inform PPE use
- recommendation of single sessional (extended) use of some PPE items
- re-usable PPE can be used. Advice on suitable decontamination arrangements should be obtained from the manufacturer, supplier or local infection control
- guidance for when case status is unknown and SARS-CoV-2 is circulating at high levels
- recommendation on patient use of facemasks
- recommendation on the use of disposable fluid repellent coveralls as an alternative to long sleeved fluid repellent gowns for aerosol generating procedures or when working in higher risk acute areas. Staff need to be trained in the safe removal of coveralls [10 April 2020]
4. Safe ways for working for all health and care workers
- staff should be trained on donning and doffing PPE. Videos are available for training
- staff should know what PPE they should wear for each setting and context
- staff should have access to the PPE that protects them for the appropriate setting and context
- gloves and aprons are subject to single use as per SICPs with disposal after each patient or resident contact
- fluid repellent surgical mask and eye protection can be used for a session of work rather than a single patient or resident contact
- gowns or coveralls can be worn for a session of work in higher risk areas
- hand hygiene should be practiced and extended to exposed forearms, after removing any element of PPE
- staff should take regular breaks and rest periods
5. Summary of PPE recommendations for health and social care workers
Table 1 summarises PPE recommendations for health and social care workers by context for both NHS and independent sectors in secondary care inpatient clinical settings.
Table 2 summarises recommended PPE for primary, outpatient, community and social care settings.
Table 3 summarises recommended PPE for ambulance staff, paramedics and pharmacists.
Table 4 summarises recommendations for all settings where COVID-19 transmission is sustained.
It is recognised that provision of healthcare is dynamic and in a single care episode more than one context may be encountered, PPE should be changed (upgraded) as appropriate.
6. Sessional use of PPE
Aprons and gloves are subject to single use as per Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs), with disposal and hand hygiene after each patient contact. Respirators, fluid-resistant (Type IIR) surgical masks (FRSM), eye protection and disposable fluid repellent coveralls or long-sleeved disposable fluid repellent gowns can be subject to single sessional use in circumstances outlined in Table 1 and section 7.
A single session refers to a period of time where a health and social care worker is undertaking duties in a specific clinical care setting or exposure environment. For example, a session might comprise a ward round, or taking observations of several patients in a cohort bay or ward. A session ends when the health and social care worker leaves the clinical care setting or exposure environment. Once the PPE has been removed it should be disposed of safely. The duration of a single session will vary depending on the clinical activity being undertaken.
While generally considered good practice, there is no evidence to show that discarding disposable respirators, facemasks or eye protection in between each patient reduces the risk of infection transmission to the health and social care worker or the patient. Indeed, frequent handling of this equipment to discard and replace it could theoretically increase risk of exposure in high demand environments, for example, by leading to increasing face touching during removal. The rationale for recommending sessional use in certain circumstances is therefore to reduce risk of inadvertent indirect transmission, as well as to facilitate delivery of efficient clinical care.
PPE should not be subject to continued use if damaged, soiled, compromised, uncomfortable or in other circumstances outlined in section 10, and a session should be ended. While the duration of a session is not specified here, the duration of use of PPE items should not exceed manufacturer instructions. Appropriateness of single versus sessional use is dependent on the nature of the task or activity being undertaken and the local context.
7. Risk assessment
For common contexts where health and social care workers are providing care to patients and individuals who are known to be possible or confirmed COVID-19 cases, PPE recommendations are specified. Attempts should be made, where appropriate, to ascertain whether a patient or individual meets the case definition for a possible or confirmed case of COVID-19 before the care episode. Refer to the current COVID-19 case definition.
Initial risk assessment where possible should take place by phone, other remote triage, prior to entering the premises or clinical area or at 2 metres social distance on entering. Where the health or social care worker assesses that an individual is symptomatic and meets the case definition, appropriate PPE should be put on prior to providing care.
Where the potential risk to health and social care workers cannot be established prior to face-to-face assessment or delivery of care (within 2 metres), the recommendation is for health and social care workers in any setting to have access to and where required wear aprons, FRSMs, eye protection and gloves.
Health and social care workers should consider the need for contact and droplet precautions based on the nature of care or task being undertaken. Risk assessment on the use of eye protection, for example, should consider the likelihood of encountering a case(s) and the risk of droplet transmission (risk of droplet transmission to eye mucosa such as with a coughing patient) during the care episode. Sessional use of FRSMs and eye protection is indicated if there is perceived to be close or prolonged interaction with patients in a context of sustained community COVID-19 transmission.
Ultimately, where staff consider there is a risk to themselves or the individuals they are caring for they should wear a fluid repellent surgical mask with or without eye protection, as determined by the individual staff member for the episode of care or single session.
Risk assessment at organisational level requires that organisations consider healthcare-associated COVID-19 risk at local level and according to the local context. Organisational risk assessment and local guidance should not replace or reduce the ability of the health and social care worker to use appropriate PPE while providing care to patients or residents.
Local acute provider risk assessment may assist in determining higher risk areas and identify specific areas of a hospital where sessional use of PPE is required (for example, certain wards, clinical areas).
8. PPE guidance by healthcare context
8.1 Aerosol generating procedures
The highest risk of transmission of respiratory viruses is during AGPs of the respiratory tract, and use of enhanced respiratory protective equipment is indicated for health and social care workers performing or assisting in such procedures. The evidence review will continue to be updated in light of emerging evidence for this new pathogen.
A long-sleeved disposable fluid repellent gown (covering the arms and body) or disposable fluid repellent coveralls, a filtering face piece class 3 (FFP3) respirator, a full-face shield or visor and gloves are recommended during AGPs on possible and confirmed cases, regardless of the clinical setting. Subject to local risk assessment, the same precautions apply for all patients regardless of case status in contexts of sustained COVID-19 transmission. Where an AGP is a single procedure, PPE is subject to single use with disposal after each patient contact or procedure as appropriate.
The following procedures are currently considered to be potentially infectious AGPs for COVID-19:
- intubation, extubation and related procedures, for example, manual ventilation and open suctioning of the respiratory tract (including the upper respiratory tract)
- tracheotomy or tracheostomy procedures (insertion or open suctioning or removal)
- bronchoscopy and upper ENT airway procedures that involve suctioning
- upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy where there is open suctioning of the upper respiratory tract
- surgery and post mortem procedures involving high-speed devices
- some dental procedures (for example, high-speed drilling)
- non-invasive ventilation (NIV); Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation (BiPAP) and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation (CPAP)
- High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV)
- induction of sputum
- high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO)
For patients with possible or confirmed COVID-19, any of these potentially infectious AGPs should only be carried out when essential. Where possible, these procedures should be carried out in a single room with the doors shut. Only those healthcare staff who are needed to undertake the procedure should be present.
Certain other procedures or equipment may generate an aerosol from material other than patient secretions but are not considered to represent a significant infectious risk. Procedures in this category include administration of pressurised humidified oxygen, entonox or medication via nebulisation.
NERVTAG advised that during nebulisation, the aerosol derives from a non-patient source (the fluid in the nebuliser chamber) and does not carry patient-derived viral particles. If a particle in the aerosol coalesces with a contaminated mucous membrane, it will cease to be airborne and therefore will not be part of an aerosol. Staff should use appropriate hand hygiene when helping patients to remove nebulisers and oxygen masks.
Chest compressions and defibrillation (as part of resuscitation) are not considered AGPs; first responders (any setting) can commence chest compressions and defibrillation without the need for AGP PPE while awaiting the arrival of other clinicians to undertake airway manoeuvres.
8.2 Higher risk acute inpatient care areas
Long-sleeved disposable fluid repellent gowns or disposable fluid repellent coveralls, FFP3 respirators, eye protection, and gloves must be worn in higher risk areas containing possible or confirmed cases, or as indicated by local risk assessment. If non-fluid-resistant gowns are used, a disposable plastic apron should be worn underneath. Gloves and aprons are subject to single use as per Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) with disposal after each patient contact. Gowns or coveralls, respirators and eye protection may be subject to single session use Section 6.
A higher risk acute inpatient care area is defined as a clinical environment where AGPs are regularly performed.
Higher risk acute care areas include:
- intensive care and high dependency care units (ICU or HDU)
- emergency department resuscitation areas
- wards or clinical areas where AGPs are regularly performed (such as wards with NIV or CPAP)
- operating theatres, where AGPs are performed
- endoscopy units, where bronchoscopy, upper gastrointestinal or nasoendoscopy are performed
Ambulance staff conveying a patient into a high risk area are not required to change or upgrade their PPE for the purposes of patient handover.
8.3 Inpatient areas
A fluid resistant (Type IIR) surgical facemask (FRSM) should be worn whenever a health and social care worker enters or is present inpatient area (for example, ward) containing possible or confirmed COVID-19 cases, whether or not involved in direct patient care. For undertaking any direct patient care, disposable gloves, aprons and eye protection should be worn. Evidence reviews were performed by Health Protection Scotland and the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, University of Oxford.
When working in inpatient areas with no identified possible or confirmed cases, use of PPE should be risk assessed (section 7). Aprons, gloves and FRSMs may be indicated in certain inpatient areas dependent on intensity of COVID-19 transmission in the local context and the nature of clinical care undertaken. An evidence review on the use of aprons or gowns was conducted by Health Protection Scotland and Health Safety Executive.
8.4 Emergency department and acute admission areas
Use of aprons FRSMs, eye protection and gloves is recommended for health and social care workers working in emergency and acute admission areas containing possible or confirmed cases. These areas might include medical, surgical and paediatric admissions wards (not assigned as higher risk acute care areas), for example.
Use of PPE in emergency and acute admission areas may be indicated regardless of case status of patients, subject to a risk assessment (section 7).
Ambulance staff conveying a patient into a high risk area are not required to change or upgrade their PPE for the purposes of patient handover.
8.5 Transfer of cases and other duties requiring close contact
Aprons, FRSMs and gloves should be used by health and social care workers transferring possible or confirmed COVID-19 cases and for other duties that require direct contact or that within 1 metre of a case. Eye protection is recommended subject to risk assessment (section 7).
8.6 Operating theatres and operative procedures
Where AGPs are performed, PPE guidance set out for AGPs (section 8.1) should be followed. For operations without AGPs, standard IPC practice should be adopted as normal for the procedure with additional use of FRSM and eye protection for any possible or confirmed cases. Use of long-sleeved disposable fluid repellent gowns is indicated for possible and confirmed cases when there is perceived risk of exposure to bodily fluids. Such PPE in operating theatres may be indicated regardless of case status of patients, subject to local risk assessment (section 7).
8.7 Labour ward
Where AGPs are performed and for operative procedures, PPE guidance set out for AGPs (section 8.1) for operative procedures (section 8.6) respectively should be followed. Otherwise, for care of possible or confirmed cases during the second and third stage of labour (vaginal delivery) disposable fluid repellent coveralls or long-sleeved disposable fluid repellent gowns, plastic aprons, FRSMs, eye protection and gloves should be used. Such PPE in labour wards may be indicated regardless of case status of patients, subject to local risk assessment (section 7).
8.8 Ambulance staff and paramedics
Where AGPs such as intubation are performed, PPE guidance set out for AGPs (section 8.1) should be followed (disposable fluid repellent coveralls may be used in place of long-sleeved disposable gowns). For any direct patient care of patient known to meet the case definition for a possible case, plastic apron, FRSMs, eye protection and gloves should be used (section 7). Where it is impractical to ascertain case status of individual patients prior to care, use of PPE including aprons, gloves, FRSM and eye protection should be subject to risk assessment according to local context (section 7).
PPE is not required for ambulance drivers of a vehicle with a bulkhead and those otherwise able to maintain social distancing of 2 metres. If the vehicle does not have a bulkhead then use of a FRSM is indicated for the driver (additional PPE would be as for other staff if providing direct care).
Ambulance staff conveying a patient into a high risk area are not required to change or upgrade their PPE for the purposes of patient handover.
8.9 Primary care, ambulatory care and other non-emergency outpatient clinical settings
For primary care, ambulatory care and other non-emergency outpatient settings (including hospital outpatient clinics) plastic aprons, FRSMs, eye protection and gloves should be used for any direct care of possible and confirmed cases. Such PPE may be indicated for work in such settings regardless of case status, subject to local risk assessment (section 7).
For health and social care workers working in reception and communal areas but not involved in direct patient care, every effort should be made to maintain social distancing of 2 metres. Where this is not practical use of FRSM is recommended.
The principles described in this guidance apply to all health and social settings. PPE guidance is provided for primary, community and social care in Table 2.
Further guidance for primary care in England is provided separately by Public Health England.
Guidance and standard operating procedures for COVID-19 are also provided by NHS England.
Further information on primary care for Scotland and social care settings in Scotland.
Further information for Northern Ireland.
8.10 Individual’s home or usual place of residence
For provision of direct care to any member of a household where one or more is a possible or confirmed case, plastic aprons, FRSMs, eye protection and gloves are recommended.
For delivery of care to any individual meeting criteria for shielding (vulnerable groups) or where anyone in the household meets criteria for shielding, as a minimum, single use disposable plastic aprons, surgical mask and gloves must be worn for the protection of the patient. If the individual is encountered in any context described or if they meet the case definition then additional PPE should be applied as above.
8.11 Community and social care settings, including care homes, mental health and other overnight resident facilities
For direct care of possible or confirmed cases in facilities such as care homes, mental health inpatient units, learning disability and autism residential units, hospices, prisons and other overnight care units, plastic aprons, FRSMs and gloves should be used. Need for eye protection is subject to risk assessment (section 7) meaning dependent on whether the nature of care and whether the individual symptoms present risk of droplet transmission. For further information, refer to guidance on residential care provision.
8.12 Pharmacy
If social distancing of 2 metres i
