Abstract

TARAPUES ROSALES, David Bernie; FLORES PILCO, Diego Armando  and  MORILLO CANO, Julio Rodrigo. Determination of dermatosis due to the use of personal protective equipment in health care workers, covid-19 area, through a community outreach project. Conrado [online]. 2021, vol.17, n.83, pp. 370-374.  Epub Dec 10, 2021. ISSN 1990-8644.

The respiratory infection by COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020; this emergency represents a challenge for governments and health systems around the world, the protection of health workers is a priority and the permanent use of equipment for Personal protection (PPE) like N95 masks, gloves and caps is inherent. The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence and describe the main dermatological pathologies and their relationship with PPE in health workers in the respiratory isolation area and intensive care unit of the Luis Gabriel Dávila Hospital in Tulcán. As part of a community outreach project, a descriptive observational study was carried out, and as an instrument, a virtual survey, a total of 90 participants were obtained, mostly nursing graduates n = 58 (64.4%) and general practitioners n = 28 (31.1%). The average age of the respondents was 33.6 years, the entire population n = 90 (100%) reported the use of PPE at work. As a result, 78 (86.7%) participants reported some skin lesion due to the use of PPE, mainly xerosis n = 60 (66.7%) and skin peeling n = 50 (55.6%). PPE use for long periods without interruption is associated with a high percentage of dermatological lesions.

Keywords : COVID-19; dermatosis; personal protective equipment; health workers.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )