Means of Respiratory Organs Protection for Work with Agents of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Diversity of currently available on the market means of respiratory organs protection (MROP) dictates the necessity to assess the specimens in regard to the possibility of using them for work with dangerous biological agents. The review presents the analysis of modern personal protection equipment for respiratory organs. National and inter-state standards, national legislative and normative documents, foreign recommendations, materials from periodicals, related to the matters of selection and usage of MROP, as well as information on the MROP models provided by manufacturers have been studied. Considered are different types and modifications of filtering MROP and applicable to them requirements. Peculiarities of MROP usage when working with agents of infectious diseases are also analyzed. Based on the conducted research, recommendations on the selection and exploitation of MROP for work with infectious diseases agents have been put forward, problematic aspects that require complex scientific-technical and regulatory solutions in order to ensure the safety of the personnel involved in handling infectious disease agents have been identified. The following conclusions are drawn: to protect the staff performing operations with harmful and dangerous biological agents, it is necessary to use MROP with anti-aerosol barriers; the choice of modification for specific situations and working conditions should be based on the results of assessment of biological hazard and associated risks. Peculiarities of the options, exploitation, and decontamination of MROP, actions in case of an accident related to the breaching of MROP integrity must be covered in the regulatory document at the institutional level, according to which an officer is obliged to receive introductory and recurring instructions. Enhancement of regulatory procedures in the sphere of biological safety provision should aim at clarification of legitimacy of using specific MROP for work with harmful and dangerous biological agents. Preferences in the choice of MROP for work with PBA have been pointed out.

Keywords

• means of respiratory organs protection
• pathogenic biological agents
• safety of works with pathogenic biological agents