By By Dan Hounsell

Personal protective equipment (PPE) played a key role in protecting frontline healthcare providers from becoming infected with COVID-19. Now that vaccines are more widely available, will healthcare organizations change their policies and practices regarding its use?

Healthcare providers should continue to use PPE at the same frequency as now in all healthcare settings, as voted by 59 percent of the respondents, according to Medical Device Network. The frequency of PPE use should remain the same post-COVID, but only in the busiest parts of hospitals such as emergency departments, based on responses from 17 percent of the respondents. According to 8 percent of the respondents, PPE should be used at the same frequency as during COVID, but only in certain seasons, such as flu season.

Another 10 percent of the respondents voted that PPE should be used less frequently after COVID, while 6 percent of the respondents said PPE should be used by healthcare providers under other conditions after the pandemic.

PPE use is expected to continue post-pandemic, with expenditures on PPE projected to triple by 2027, according to the Health Industry Distributors Association. Researchers are working to  make PPE equipment more effective, biodegradable and sustainable.