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TSI Delivers in Time of Need

June 11th, 2009, the World Health Organization, (WHO), announced that the world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic. The Influenza virus A(H1N1) is contagious, spreading easily from one person to another, and from one country to another. As of today, nearly 30,000 confirmed cases have been reported in 74 countries.

On the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. The Director-General of WHO has therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. Level six is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region and the same virus has caused sustained community level outbreaks in at least one other country in another WHO region. Countries should prepare to see cases, or the further spread of cases, in the near future. Countries where outbreaks appear to have peaked should prepare for a second wave of infection. Countries with widespread transmission should focus on the appropriate management of patients.

 As a recognized leader in quantitative respirator fit testing, isolation room pressure controls and filter testing equipment, TSI Incorporated is playing a key role in supporting healthcare organizations worldwide. TSI is making every responsible effort to keep our customers aware of current best practices that are being adopted or recommended by authorities such as: government, regulatory and industry organizations. In response to the outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have issued the latest recommendation:

“Respiratory Protection: All healthcare personnel who enter the rooms of patients in isolation for swine influenza should wear a fit-tested disposable N95 respirator or equivalent (e.g., powered air purifying respirator). Respiratory protection should be donned upon room entry.¹”

Respiratory protection for hospital staff is one of the most critical issues. Surgical masks were at one time considered sufficient, but new evidence² from CDC/NIOSH clearly shows that they do almost nothing to protect the individual wearer. N95 respirators have emerged as the preferred and required method of respiratory protection for most hospital staff. When respirators are required, so is respirator training and fit testing as part of an overall written respiratory protection program³.

The European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have issued a similar recommendation.

There are several methods of respirator fit-testing: quantitative and qualitative. The most accurate method is quantitative fit-testing. The TSI PortaCount® Pro+ Respirator Fit Tester is the only quantitative fit tester, capable of fit testing all respirators, including N95’s. It performs fit test measurements under conditions approximating actual use and is compliant with all respiratory protection standards, regulations and guidelines including:

• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134
• OSHA/CDC/WHO Pandemic/Terrorism Preparedness Guidelines
• Joint Commission (LD.1.30)
• CDC Tuberculosis Guidelines
• ANSI Z88.10
• CSA Z94.4 (Canada)
• EN529:2005 (Europe)
• HSE 282/28 (United Kingdom)
• TNI HSE 282/28 (Slovakia)
• BGR 190 (Germany)
• AS/NZS 1715 (Australia/New Zealand)

A respiratory protection program that includes quantitative fit-testing is the key to giving healthcare staff a higher level of confidence in their respirators making them more likely to report to work in a pandemic.

Of equal importance is hospital isolation room pressure, the CDC states that “Procedures that are likely to generate aerosols (e.g., bronchoscopy, elective intubation, suctioning, administering nebulized medications), should be done in a location with negative pressure air handling whenever feasible. An airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) with negative pressure air handling with 6 to 12 air changes per hour can be used. Air can be exhausted directly outside or be recirculated after filtration by a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Facilities should monitor and document the proper negative-pressure function of AIIRs, including those in operating rooms, intensive care units, emergency departments, and procedure rooms.¹”

TSI’s PresSura Isolation Room Monitors are the industry standard for monitoring isolation rooms in hospitals and other health care facilities. It accurately and continuously monitors negative isolation pressure, providing alarms if pressure is lost, and outputs to assist hospitals in monitoring and documenting proper room control.

In addition, TSI continues to support the development of new filter media and quality control standards of commercial respirator manufactures across the globe with TSI’s Automated Filter Tester Models 8127 and 8130.

TSI provides multiple solutions for this time of need. Click here for more information

Attached are some links to help aid in keeping up to date information on the SOIV H1N1 outbreak:

Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Health and Human Serviced Department links:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_infection_control.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/masks.htm

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/maskguidancecommunity.html

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/healthcare/maskguidancehc.html

http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/

American Industrial Hygiene Association link:

http://www.aiha.org/Content/AccessInfo/press/Swine+Flu+Pandemic+Press+Release.htm

Association of Professionals in Infection Control links:

http://www.apic.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Swine_Flu_Information&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=13261

World Health Organization links:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html

An international leader in measurement technology for over 40 years, TSI Incorporated designs and manufactures precision instruments used for respirator fit testing, exposure monitoring, contamination control, indoor air quality, ventilation testing, aerosol research instruments, and other key parameters in the environment. TSI serves the needs of industry, governments, research institutions and academia. Visit our website at www.tsi.com for more information.

References:
1- Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_infection_control.htm
2- Lawrence RB, Duling MG, Calvert CA, Coffey CC. (2006). Comparison of Performance of Three Different Types of Respiratory Protection Devices, J Occup Environ Hyg. 3: 465-474 (Sep. 2006).

3- Commission to Investigate the Introduction and Spread of SARS in Ontario (2006). The SARS Commission Final Report – Spring of Fear – Vol. 3, p.1047 (Dec. 2006). http://www.sarscommission.ca/

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