PPE and COVID

The information on this page does not replace official government guidance on appropriate PPE. This page merely collates a number of resources and facts to ensure that clinicians can come to an informed decision as to what level of protection they are comfortable with in their particular healthcare environments.

20/03/2020 ENT UK have recently informed all ENT trainees that examination of the throat with a tongue depressor is an Aerosol Generating Procedure, and requires FFP3 masks. This advice and that of the WHO above seems not to agree with the advice at the time from Public Health England (this was updated by PHE on 2nd April 2020).

Update 25/03/2020: “Public Health England (PHE) has accepted the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used in all ENT-related procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has agreed to change their list of Aerosol-Generating Procedures (AGPs) to reflect this.”

Bottom Line: Deep throat examinations (with tongue depressor) require FFP3 mask, face shields and gloves.

Click here for our Covid-19 Clinical Guidance Page