A personal respirator to improve protection for healthcare workers treating Covid-19 (PeRSo) (June 2021)

Summary

During the Covid-19 pandemic, global stocks, supply logistics and suitability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect healthcare workers were recurrent challenges. The “Personal Respirator – Southampton” (PeRSo) was developed by a team of healthcare professionals at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust during the first wave of the pandemic. It delivers High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtered air from a battery powered fan-filter assembly into a lightweight hood with a clear visor that can be comfortably worn for several hours. This study looks the development of PeRSo and highlights feedback from doctors and nurses that the PeRSo prototype was preferred to standard FFP2 and FFP3 masks, being more comfortable and reducing the time and risk of recurrently changing PPE. Patients also reported better communication and reassurance as the entire face is visible.