Respiratory protection preparedness in critical care healthcare workers: An observational audit of facial hair at a major tertiary hospital in Australia

Abstract

Background: Facial hair under a tight fitting P2/N95 respirator diminishes respiratory protection. There is limited guidance with respect to the threshold to be clean shaven in readiness to wear N95 respirators. Methods: We performed a cross sectional audit in late August 2021 to observe whether staff had facial hair that could decrease respiratory protection of tight fitting respirators. The audit was conducted in three critical care areas at a major tertiary public hospital in Australia during a period of moderate-to-high community prevalence of COVID-19. All staff observed had previously successfully completed quantitative fit testing with a clean shaven face in the preceding 12 months. R..