模拟复用的医用外科口罩清洗和消毒后主要性能指标变化

目的 医用外科口罩模拟复用清洗和消毒后主要性能指标变化。方法 以颗粒过滤效率（PFE）、细菌过滤效率（BFE）作为医用外科口罩的关键性能指标,对不同佩戴时间、不同干燥方式、不同洗消方式等试验条件进行验证。结果 试验后的医用外科口罩关键性能指标能够符合标准要求。结论 医用外科口罩采用清水洗涤、56℃热水浸泡和100℃沸水浸泡处理后主要性能指标未见明显下降。     

湖南省医用超声探头表面及耦合剂微生物污染现况调查

目的 研究医用超声探头表面及耦合剂微生物污染现状,为规范与标准的制定提供科学依据。 方法 在湖南省内选取不同等级的综合性医院、儿童医院和妇幼专科医院共11家单位,对其超声探头表面及耦合剂进行采样检测,在规定的时间内送实验室进行细菌总数和致病菌检测。 结果 从湖南省11家医院采集484份体外超声探头表面,细菌总数超标率为89.26%;170份阴道超声探头样品,侧面细菌总数超标率为42.35%,顶端细菌总数超标率为18.82%;耦合剂细菌总数超标率为50.00%;超声探头表面和耦合剂检出多种致病菌和条件致病菌。 结论 医院使用的超声探头表面及耦合剂微生物污染不容乐观,存在交叉感染的风险,需尽快制定医用超声探头表面消毒卫生要求标准。     

基于高通量测序的家用冰箱菌群分析

目的 了解家用冰箱不同环境中的微生物菌群情况,发现潜在致病菌,为人们日常使用冰箱提供一定参考意见。方法 采集7个家庭的家用冰箱4 ℃、-20 ℃环境内部及冷凝水共19份样本,通过高通量测序方法检测16s rRNA,分析其菌群情况;并进一步和致病菌数据库进行比对分析,发现潜在致病菌。结果 共检出30个不同的细菌门,其中变形菌门(74.59%)、厚壁菌门(15.73%)及拟杆菌门(7.80%)含量最高。三种环境中,冷凝水及4 ℃环境菌群特征比较接近,且G^-占比高于-20 ℃环境。4 ℃和冷凝水中,假单胞菌属和不动杆菌属分别含量最多,其次为大肠杆菌;而-20 ℃中,不动杆菌属和巨型球菌数丰度最高。共发现20种潜在致病菌,其中条件致病菌不动杆菌属、假单胞菌属及芽孢杆菌属丰度最高,同时还发现多种食源性致病菌,包括李斯特菌属、沙门菌属及大肠菌属等。结论 冰箱环境中存在G^-为主的多种菌群及潜在致病菌,日常清理冰箱及其重要。     

210例肺癌患者呼吸道感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的 了解肺癌患者呼吸道感染病原菌分布及耐药性,为院感防控工作提供理论参考。方法 选取2018年6月—2020年5月于本院住院治疗的210例肺癌化疗后呼吸道感染患者作为研究对象,采集患者痰液标本,按照《全国临床检验操作规程》标准进行真菌、细菌分离,37 ℃、5%CO2下培养、纯化、鉴定,药敏试验采用K-B法判别结果,分析耐药情况。结果 210例确诊患者共分离248株病原菌,其中真菌26株,革兰阴性菌157株,革兰阳性菌 65 株,分别占总分离菌株的10.48%、63.31%和26.61%。混合感染38例,占总分离菌株的18.95%,混合菌以真菌与革兰阴性菌混合为主。检出的病原菌主要为铜绿假单胞菌(占18.15％),其次为金黄色葡萄球菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、鲍曼不动菌、白色念珠菌,分别占14.52%、12.90%、10.88%和7.26％。铜绿假单胞菌、肺炎克雷伯菌对苯唑西林、头孢唑林耐药,耐药率均为100.00%;大多革兰阳性菌对利奈唑胺、万古霉素敏感。结论 肺癌呼吸道患者的抗感染病原菌分布广泛,感染率高,临床应尽早进行病原学检查及药敏试验,根据药敏结果合理选用药物,重视抗菌药物的合理使用,以减少细菌耐药性的发生。     

164例艾滋病患者血液培养病原体分布及耐药性分析

目的 探讨艾滋病(AIDS)患者机会性感染的病原体种类及其药敏结果。方法 采用BeeT/Alert3D血培养仪进行血液标本的细菌和真菌培养;绝大部分菌株采用VITEK2 COMPACT微生物分析仪进行鉴定和药敏,部分菌株用手工方法鉴定,真菌药敏采用ATB药敏条。结果 164例艾滋病患者血液标本培养阳性34例,共分离34株病原菌,总阳性率为20.73％。其中真菌16株(47.06%),主要为新生隐球酵母菌12株(75.00％), 马尼菲青霉菌2株(12.50％), 2株因患者死亡未进一步鉴定(12.50％);革兰阳性球菌10株(29.41%),均为凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌,8株为耐甲氧西林菌株;革兰阳性杆菌6株(17.65%),均为星形诺卡菌;革兰阴性杆菌2株(5.88%),为甲型副伤寒沙门菌。12株新生隐球酵母菌对5-氟胞嘧啶、两性霉素B、氟康唑、伊曲康唑和伏立康唑敏感率均为100%;10株葡萄球菌对万古霉素、奎诺普叮-达福普叮、利奈唑胺、庆大霉素敏感率均为100%,对红霉素、青霉素G、克林霉素耐药率100%。6株星形诺卡菌对复方新诺明和庆大霉素敏感。结论 艾滋病患者发生机会性感染的病原体以真菌占优势,尤其以新生隐球酵母菌为主。     

校园空气微生物分布及其变化规律研究

目的 了解校园空气中微生物分布及其变化规律。方法 采用空气沉降法,分别于春、夏、秋、冬四个季节对贵州大学校园8个不同功能区,共30个监测点进行了细菌含量的监测。结果 ⑴在室内监测点中,教学区空气质量全部合格,图书馆的空气质量是最佳的;女生宿舍、食堂的空气微生物含量相对较高。室外监测点中林荫道的空气质量在不同季节大部分时间均处于清洁水平,而主干道空气质量全年均处于污染水平。⑵校园各功能区中,室内空气微生物浓度明显低于室外,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。⑶校园各功能区不同季节空气细菌和真菌浓度变化特征存在差异。各季节不同功能区空气中细菌浓度无显著差异;而各季节空气中真菌浓度差异显著,真菌浓度在秋季最高,冬季最低。结论 在人流量大的、空间相对密闭、植被稀少的场所空气中的微生物污染较严重,相反在人流量小、通风好、植被茂密的场所微生物污染少,空气质量较好。     

N95-光触媒抗菌口罩在医院应用的微生物学评价

目的了解经抗菌处理的N95口罩,是否可以降低使用时的病原微生物数量。方法实验室检测光触媒口罩表面材质的抗菌性能后,选择呼吸科病房医护人员分别配戴普通N95口罩或N95-光触媒抗菌口罩各3 d,检测口罩内层、外表面的细菌总数和真菌总数。结果 N95-光触媒抗菌口罩表面无纺布对大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和白色念珠菌均有较好的抗菌效果; N95-光触媒抗菌口罩外表面的细菌总数和真菌总数均明显少于普通N95口罩(P=0. 031,0. 05),差异具有统计学意义。结论研究提示,医疗系统应用N95-光触媒抗菌口罩,能够减少沾染口罩的微生物数量。     

2015—2018年住院患者治疗性抗菌药物使用前分离菌株及药敏情况

目的 了解住院患者首次治疗性使用抗菌药物前分离菌株及药敏结果,为医院抗菌药物合理使用提供可靠的微生物依据。方法 基于某院抗菌药物临床决策支持系统后台相关节点数据及医院检验信息系统收集的住院患者分离菌株及药敏结果,收集2015—2018年患者入院后首次治疗性使用抗菌药物前临床分离菌株和住院期间送检标本所有临床分离菌株,比较抗菌药物使用前后菌株分布及其耐药情况。结果 2015—2018年住院患者所有送检标本共检出非重复菌株69 037株（包括细菌及真菌）,其中革兰阳性菌17 900株（占25.93%）,革兰阴性菌44 055株（占63.81%）,真菌7 082株（占10.26%）。住院患者入院后首次治疗性使用抗菌药物前采集标本中检出非重复菌株15 017株,其中革兰阳性菌4 661株（占31.04%）,革兰阴性菌9 451株（占62.93%）,真菌905株（占6.03%）。治疗用药前标本分离菌居前5位的依次是大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌和凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌,所有送检标本分离菌居前5位的分别为肺炎克雷伯菌、鲍曼不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌、假丝酵母菌属、大肠埃希菌,苛养菌如链球菌属、流感嗜血杆菌、卡他莫拉菌在所有送检标本中占比,较用药前低。临床常见分离菌包括金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞菌、鲍曼不动杆菌,抗菌治疗后送检标本分离菌株中耐药率更高。结论 研究首次报道大样本治疗性抗菌药物使用前临床送检标本分离的菌株及药敏情况,临床常见分离菌包括金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞菌、鲍曼不动杆菌,在抗菌治疗后标本中显示更高的耐药性。     

早产儿重症监护病房实验室确诊败血症病原分布及临床特点

目的 调查重症监护病房败血症早产儿病原菌分布及其临床特点。方法 回顾性分析2016年1月—2018年12月某院早产儿重症监护病房收治的血培养阳性，实验室确诊败血症155例，对不同病原菌早产儿败血症临床特点进行比较。结果 155例早产儿败血症中，革兰阴性（G^-）杆菌组76例（占49.03%），以肺炎克雷伯菌败血症为主；革兰阳性（G⁺）球菌组42例（占27.10%），以表皮葡萄球菌败血症为主；真菌组37例（占23.87%），以近平滑假丝酵母菌、白假丝酵母菌败血症为主。G^-菌组和真菌组早产儿胎龄、出生体重小于G⁺菌败血症组；真菌败血症组早产儿起病日龄大于G^-菌组、G⁺菌组，深静脉置管比例高于G^-菌组、G⁺菌组；真菌组早产儿血小板计数低于G^-菌、G⁺菌组；G^-菌组C反应蛋白（CRP）高于G⁺菌组和真菌组，差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。155例早产儿治愈好转率94.84%，病死率5.16%。G^-菌组患儿病死率高于G⁺菌组、真菌组，真菌败血症组治疗日数长于G^-菌、G⁺菌组，差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。结论 早产儿败血症致病菌主要为G^-菌，G^-菌组、G⁺菌组及真菌组败血症早产儿临床表现不同、实验室指标及预后不同。     

2017年广东省东莞市地铁列车车厢环境卫生状况调查

目的 了解东莞市地铁列车车厢环境卫生状况,为预防疾病传播提供科学依据。方法 2017年对东莞市正在运营的地铁列车车厢内环境空气质量、列车把手表面微生物开展监测,分析空调制冷季与空调非制冷季、列车高峰期与非高峰期、车站外环境与列车车厢之间的差异。结果 除部分列车温度、噪声、列车扶手表面细菌总数指标出现超标外,大部分监测指标符合相关卫生标准要求。空调非制冷季一氧化碳、二氧化碳、空气细菌总数高于空调制冷季,而空调非制冷季扶手表面细菌总数低于空调制冷季,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。高峰期扶手表面细菌总数高于非高峰期,而列车空气细菌总数低于非高峰期,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。车站外环境温度、风速高于列车车厢,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论 噪声过高、温度不达标、列车扶手表面细菌总数超标等问题对地铁列车车厢环境卫生状况产生影响,要针对监测中发现的问题加强列车日常卫生管理工作。     

Risk-based selection of respirators against infectious aerosols: application to anthrax spores

This article presents two methods for estimating infection risk among individuals wearing air-purifying respirators against airborne pathogens, with the overall aim of selecting appropriate respiratory protection. Necessary data inputs are the parameters for the ambient pathogen concentration distribution, the respirator penetration distribution, and the infectious dose distribution, along with the breathing rate, duration of a respirator use period, and the number of use periods. The first method assumes that the pathogen does not exhibit a cumulative dose effect, whereas the second accounts for a cumulative dose effect. The methods are illustrated with hypothetical scenarios involving Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) spores. Available data suggest that anthrax spores would exhibit a cumulative dose effect for multiple exposures occurring close in time, as would likely affect personnel responding to a bioterrorist release. The analysis shows that failure to account for a cumulative dose effect when present leads to underestimating infection risk. Three types of air-purifying respirators are compared for their predicted efficacy in reducing the risk of inhalation anthrax. Although uncertainty analyses are not performed, a general conclusion is that a full-facepiece powered air-purifying respirator would be the best air-purifying device for responding to an anthrax spore release. Because such respirators would not prevent all personnel from inhaling an infectious dose, it would be advisable for users not previously vaccinated against anthrax to receive post-exposure prophylactic therapy.     

医疗废物锐器盒病原微生物污染状况与使用时限研究

目的了解医疗废物锐器盒不同使用时间病原微生物污染状况,探讨锐器盒使用的合理期限,为医疗废物的管理提供参考。方法随机抽取某传染病三级甲等专科医院病区治疗车上使用后的2 L锐器盒12个,检测锐器盒内部以及外表面不同时间节点乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)、丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)、人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)病毒载量和细菌菌落数,同期取3个未使用的锐器盒作为空白对照。结果采集实验组和对照组四个节点(48 h、72 h、5 d、7 d)锐器盒外表面、内容物的洗脱液标本各60份,均未检测到HIV、HCV,锐器盒的外表面标本均未检测到HBV,仅有一个锐器盒使用后72 h内容物洗脱液检测到HBV,含量为2.20E+01 IU/mL。使用后锐器盒内部洗脱液的染菌量变化:使用后5 d锐器盒内容物洗脱液100%有细菌生长,使用后7 d 12个锐器盒内容物洗脱液均细菌载量不可计数。锐器盒外表面细菌载量为1～9 CFU/cm~2。感官指标中所有锐器盒内、外表面均未发生明显改变,未产生不适气味。结论随着锐器盒贮存时间延长至7 d,锐器盒外表面细菌菌落数无明显增长,也未检测到HIV、HBV、HCV,建议不强制要求产生量小(即使用后48 h锐器盒达不到3/4贮存量)的科室锐器盒使用时限设为48 h。     

高通量测序探讨脑瘫儿童肠道菌群的变化

目的 利用高通量测序方法,探讨脑瘫儿童肠道菌群的变化。方法 选择龙岗区社会福利中心诊断为脑瘫且正常进食的34例患儿作为脑瘫组;同时选取脑瘫伴癫痫且正常进食的20例患儿作为脑瘫伴癫痫组;另外选取同龄健康儿童22例作为健康组。留取所有受试者的粪便标本,提取总DNA并扩增,采用对16SrRNA基因进行高通量测序,对测序结果进行生物学分析。结果 1)健康组与脑瘫组、脑瘫伴癫痫组儿童相比肠道菌群结构差异有统计学意义(R²=0.410、P=0.001;R²=0.450、P=0.001),但脑瘫组与脑瘫伴癫痫组儿童相比肠道菌群结构较为相似,差异无统计学意义(R²=0.025、P=0.272)。2)脑瘫组和脑瘫伴癫痫组儿童肠道菌群中Prevotella丰度均明显增加(脑瘫组均值为32.68%,脑瘫伴癫痫组均值为34.34%)。结论 正常进食的脑瘫组、脑瘫伴癫痫组儿童中Prevotella丰度明显增加,Prevotella也许是脑瘫儿童的“保护菌属”。     

高通量测序探讨脑瘫儿童肠道菌群的变化

目的 利用高通量测序方法,探讨脑瘫儿童肠道菌群的变化。方法 选择龙岗区社会福利中心诊断为脑瘫且正常进食的34例患儿作为脑瘫组;同时选取脑瘫伴癫痫且正常进食的20例患儿作为脑瘫伴癫痫组;另外选取同龄健康儿童22例作为健康组。留取所有受试者的粪便标本,提取总DNA并扩增,采用对16SrRNA基因进行高通量测序,对测序结果进行生物学分析。结果 1)健康组与脑瘫组、脑瘫伴癫痫组儿童相比肠道菌群结构差异有统计学意义(R²=0.410、P=0.001;R²=0.450、P=0.001),但脑瘫组与脑瘫伴癫痫组儿童相比肠道菌群结构较为相似,差异无统计学意义(R²=0.025、P=0.272)。2)脑瘫组和脑瘫伴癫痫组儿童肠道菌群中Prevotella丰度均明显增加(脑瘫组均值为32.68%,脑瘫伴癫痫组均值为34.34%)。结论 正常进食的脑瘫组、脑瘫伴癫痫组儿童中Prevotella丰度明显增加,Prevotella也许是脑瘫儿童的“保护菌属”。     

多曲线季节指数模型分析广东省登革热流行时间特征及应用探讨

目的 建立广东省登革热疫情月份分布特征分析模型,并利用该模型进行疫情预测和防控效果评估。 方法 收集广东省1990-2016年各月登革热监测报告发病数,拟合多曲线季节指数模型。 结果 各月(x)发生登革热概率的拟合模型方程为:S=36.585-17.436x+5.425x²-0.318x³ (S≥0%,R²=0.980,P=0.000);多曲线季节指数模型为:S=-0.001+0.008x-0.003x²+0.000x³ (S≥0, x=1,2,3,4,5,6,R²=0.992,P=0.012);S=e^{-14.021+1.733x}(S≥0,x=7,R²=0.981,P=0.001);S=-189.883+41.304x-2.181x² (S≥0,x=8,9,10,11,R²=0.998,P=0.048);S=1.274E12×e^-2.612x(S≥0, x=12,R²=0.995,P=0.043)。结果发现,7-11月为广东省登革热高发生风险、高流行强度月份;1995年和2014年两年是广东省登革热异常暴发年;从2013年开始,广东省登革热疫情月度发生态势和流行特征发生悄然变化,发生异常疫情的月份时间提前、频次增加、强度增大,并可能引起下半年的疫情高发态势。采用该模型评估表明,广东省2015、2016年登革热早防早控措施效果明显。 结论 多曲线模型拟合登革热流行季节指数效果较好,该模型既可以用于登革热疫情的月份分布特征分析,开展早期预测预警,以便做到早发现早防控,还可用于评估防控措施的效果。     

指数平滑法和ARIMA模型在学生肺结核预测的应用

目的 探讨指数平滑法和自回归积分滑动平均模型(auto regressive integrated moving average model,ARIMA)在衡阳市学生肺结核疫情预测中的可行性,比较两种模型的预测效果并确定最佳模型,为学校结核病疫情的早期发现和科学控制提供参考。 方法 收集衡阳市2010—2020年学生肺结核资料,比较两种模型的拟合情况和预测效果优劣。 结果 拟合最佳的指数平滑法模型为Holt-Winter加法模型,拟合的R²、平稳R²、均方根误差(root mean square error, RMSE)、平均绝对误差百分比(mean absolute percentage error, MAPE)、平均绝对误差(mean absolute error, MAE)、正态化BIC分别是0.666、0.469、5.716、31.276、3.873、3.606,Ljung-Box Q=20.741,P=0.145,验证2020年1—12月预测的平均相对误差为39.98%;拟合最佳的ARIMA模型为ARIMA(0,1,1)×(0,1,1)₁₂模型,拟合的平稳R²、R²、RMSE、MAPE、MAE、正态化BIC分别是0.500、0.603、6.532、34.623、4.443、3.885,验证2020年1—12月预测的平均相对误差为120.76%。 结论 与ARIMA模型比较而言,指数平滑模型拟合衡阳市学生肺结核发病数效果更好,预测精度更高。     

Respiratory protection and the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Tuberculosis (TB) can be transmitted to susceptible healthcare workers via inhalation of droplet nuclei carrying viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli. Several types of respiratory protective devices are compared with respect to efficacy against droplet nuclei penetration: surgical masks, disposable dust/mist particulate respirators (PRs), elastomeric halfmask respirators with high-efficiency (HEPA) filters, and powered airpurifying respirators (PAPRs) with elastomeric halfmask facepieces and HEPA filters. It is estimated that these devices permit, respectively, 42%, 5.7%, 2%, and 0.39% penetration of droplet nuclei into the facepiece. More limited data for the disposable HEPA filtering-facepiece respirator suggest that it would allow droplet nuclei penetration of 3% or less, similar to the value estimated for the elastomeric halfmask HEPA filter respirator. Because a respirator wearer's cumulative infection risk depends on the extent of droplet nuclei penetration, the cumulative risk will differ, given use of these different respirators. Hypothetical but realistic “low-exposure” and “high-exposure” scenarios are posed that involve, respectively, a 1.6% and a 6.4% annual risk of infection for healthcare workers. For the low-exposure scenario, the 10-year cumulative risks given no respirators versus surgical masks versus disposable dust/mist PRs versus elastomeric halfmask HEPA filter respirators versus HEPA filter PAPRs are, respectively, 15%, 6.7%, 0.94%, 0.33%, and .064%. For the high-exposure scenario, the 10-year cumulative risks for no respirator use versus use of the same four types of respirators are, respectively, 48%, 24%, 3.7%, 1.3%, and 0.26%. The use of disposable HEPA filtering-facepiece respirator should permit cumulative risks close to those estimated for the elastomeric halfmask HEPA filter respirator. It is concluded that when an infectious TB patient undergoes a procedure that generates respiratory aerosols, and when droplet nuclei source control is inadequate, healthcare workers attending the patient may need to wear highly protective respirators, such as HEPA filter PAPRs.     

Respiratory protection: associated factors and effectiveness of respirator use among underground coal miners

BACKGROUND: We investigated factors associated with the use of respiratory protection and explored the effectiveness of respirators among coal miners. METHODS: Between 1987 and 1992, respiratory symptoms, smoking, lung function, and dust exposures were assessed longitudinally among 185 underground bituminous coal miners. Self-reported use of respiratory protection was expressed as mean percent time wearing a respirator. RESULTS: Miners' respirator use increased with mean dust concentration, but decreased with tobacco consumption. Increasing age was associated with greater respirator use. Miners who had respiratory symptoms at the initial survey subsequently reported greater use of respirators. A significant protective association was found between the miners' respirator use and FEV(1) levels at both the initial and follow-up surveys. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide additional evidence that respirator use is protective of lung health. When respiratory protection programs are developed, factors that may affect respirator use behavior, such as age, smoking, and respiratory symptoms, should be considered. Future studies of respiratory health will need to consider workers' use of respiratory protection.     

Simulated workplace performance of N95 respirators.

During July 1995 the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) began to certify nine new classes of particulate respirators. To determine the level of performance of these respirators, NIOSH researchers conducted a study to (1) measure the simulated workplace performance of 21 N95 respirator models, (2) determine whether fit-testing affected the performance, and (3) investigate the effect of varying fit-test pass/fail criteria on respirator performance. The performance of each respirator model was measured by conducting 100 total penetration tests. The performance of each respirator model was then estimated by determining the 95th percentile of the total penetration through the respirator (i.e., 95% of wearers of that respirator can expect to have a total penetration value below the 95th percentile penetration value). The 95th percentile of total penetrations for each respirator without fit-testing ranged from 6 to 88%. The 95th percentile of total penetrations for all the respirators combined was 33%, which exceeds the amount of total penetration (10%) normally expected of a half-mask respirator. When a surrogate fit test (1% criterion) was applied to the data, the 95th percentile of total penetrations for each respirator decreased to 1 to 16%. The 95th percentile of total penetrations for all the respirators combined was only 4%. Therefore, fit-testing of N95 respirators is necessary to ensure that the user receives the expected level of protection. The study also found that respirator performance was dependent on the value of the pass/fail criterion used in the surrogate fit-test.     

Using respirators and goggles to control exposure to air pollutants in an anatomy laboratory

BACKGROUND: Engineering or administrative methods are often insufficient or impractical to control exposure to chemicals in anatomy laboratories. This study explored the feasibility of wearing one or a combination of respirators and goggles used as personal protective equipment (PPE) to control exposure in one such laboratory. METHODS: A group of 28 subjects were briefly trained in wearing PPE, fit-tested, and asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their subjective reaction after wearing the assigned PPE ensemble while working in the laboratory. The subjects' exposure to formaldehyde was also measured and generally exceeded the recommended limits. RESULTS: When a full-face respirator or the combination of a half-mask respirator and goggles was worn, a majority of subjects reported no odor problem and no irritation to eyes or upper respiratory system. Subjects accepted the PPE to certain degrees, but those using respirators encountered difficulties communicating with others. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of a half-mask respirator and goggles was the most feasible ensemble to control exposure to air pollutants in an anatomy laboratory.