INTRODUCTION
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers (HCW) in the spotlight. Certain professions, like dentists and otorhinolaryngologists have a higher overall cumulative risk of exposure to splash, droplets and aerosols during their clinical practice.
The global shortage of PPE for HCW, has resulted in vulnerability to the transmission of CVOID-19 and mortality. HCW’s face has been reported to be the body part most commonly contaminated by body fluids.(1) There are other occupational hazards apart from COVID-19. The cumulative lifetime risk of a surgeon becoming infected with hepatitis C is 6.9% and HIV is 0.15%.(2) The estimated HIV transmission risk with mucocutaneous contact is 0.1%.(2)
Transmission is influenced by various factors like: Pathogens, ventilation, air filtration, sterilization and PPE.(3) A face shield is a PPE that provides barrier protection to the facial area and related mucus membranes of the eyes, nose and lips, from spray or splash blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.(1, 4) It has received less attention compared to surgical masks and respirators. This is likely because it is easily manufactured, and industry like 3 dimensional printing, or additive manufacturing has stepped in.
The aim of this narrative review to examine the current evidence on face shield as a PPE for droplet or aerosol prevention.