Management of Critically Ill Adults With COVID-19

JAMA

Poston, Jason T.; Patel, Bhakti K.; Davis, Andrew M.

Introduction

Infection Control and Testing
1. For health care workers performing aerosol-generating procedures (eg, endotracheal intubation, nebulized treatments, open suctioning) use of fitted respirator masks is recommended (N95 respirators, FFP2), instead of surgical masks, in addition to other personal protective equipment (PPE) (best practice statement).
2. For usual care of nonventilated patients, or for performing non–aerosolgenerating procedures on patients receiving mechanical ventilation, use of medical masks is recommended, instead of respirator masks, in addition to other PPE (weak recommendation, low-quality evidence [LQE]). 3. Diagnostic lower respiratory tract samples (endotracheal aspirates) are preferred over bronchial washings, bronchoalveolar lavage, and upper respiratory tract (nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal) samples (weak recommendation, LQE).

Keywords

Clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment; Epidemiology