Guidance for otolaryngology health care workers performing aerosol generating medical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic

Table 1 Summary of recommendations for minimum Personal Protective Equipment for Health Care Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic

	Level 1 PPE	Level 2 PPE	Level 3 PPE
FOR NON-AGMP PROCEDURES
Asymptomatic + SARS-CoV-2 negative or unknown	X
Symptomatic + SARS-CoV-2 negative	X
Symptomatic + SARS-CoV-2 positive or high risk	X^a	X^a
FOR AGMP PROCEDURES
Asymptomatic + SARS-CoV-2 negative	X^b	X^b
Asymptomatic + SARS-CoV-2 pending		X
Symptomatic + SARS-CoV-2 negative		X
Symptomatic + SARS-CoV-2 pending due to urgency		X^c	X^c
Symptomatic + SARS-CoV-2 positive		X^c	X^c

^aThis depends on the type and duration of examination and procedure. When there is a prolonged exposure of the HCW within the respiratory cloud of the patient, Level 2 PPE is advised
^bThis depends on the local COVID-19 prevalence, test reliability and type and duration of AGMP. In favourable situations Level 1 PPE is adequate
^cThis depends on the type and duration of AGMP and patient population: for a short duration, low risk AGMP, like intubation, Level 2 PPE is adequate, whereas for procedures with prolonged aerosol formation, like sinonasal surgery using drills, a higher level of protection may be warranted

ISSN: 1916-0216