Infection Control Today recently interviewed manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE) and antimicrobial textiles on pandemic preparedness.
According to one manufacturer, hospitals working to maintain PPE inventory as part of outbreak preparedness efforts and/or patients with emerging infectious diseases should check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) online tools to assist with evaluating and maintaining an appropriate PPE inventory.
The tool allows hospitals to identify their role during an outbreak situation and purchase PPE to meet minimum recommendations based on that role, the article said.
Also, if hospitals find they are short of PPE, state and local public health officials may be aware of regional, state, or local stockpiles of supplies available for these circumstances.