CDC increases supply of PPE for treating Ebola patients

Atlanta – In an effort to better protect health care workers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is adding $2.7 million in personal protective equipment to its stockpile for hospitals that treat Ebola patients.

CDC gathers products from the Strategic National Stockpile into kits that can be quickly sent to hospitals that have an Ebola patient. Each kit can be used to treat one Ebola patient for a maximum of five days.

The equipment adheres to CDC guidance issued on Oct. 20 and includes equipment such as impermeable gowns, boot covers, gloves, faceshields and hoods.

The agency encourages hospitals to work with state public health departments to request PPE supplies to treat an Ebola patient. Demand for PPE has increased since CDC issued its Ebola guidance, CDC states.

Additionally, CDC is offering an educational training program on PPE donning and doffing procedures. The program was created by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and Johns Hopkins University’s Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality.