Skin Lesions and Personal Protective Equipment in Health Care Workers From Lima, Peru, During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) relied on personal protective equipment (PPE) to mitigate COVID-19 infections. However, prolonged use of PPE led to a risk of developing skin lesions (SLs). Methods: In this study, we evaluated the frequency, characteristics, and factors associated with SLs while using PPE. We surveyed 190 HCWs in 2 hospitals in Lima, Peru, between September 2020 and May 2021 using a convenience sampling method. Eligible participants were hospital personnel actively working on-site and using PPE. The questionnaire focused on reporting SLs related to PPE use. Results: The frequency of SLs among our sample of HCWs was 77%. The most frequent SLs were erythema (44%), comedones (18%), and erosions (15%), located most frequently on the nasal bridge (62%) and cheeks (28%). Of the surveyed HCWs, 39% reported using some form of prevention method to avoid SLs, with adhesive tape or bandages being the most common (58%). Working in the intensive care unit (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 1.60; 95% CI, 1.11-2.29), working >12 hours per day (aPR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.11-2.41), and experiencing burning sensations (aPR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.05-1.55) or dryness (aPR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.02-1.90) on the skin were associated with a higher likelihood of having SLs. Conclusions: By documenting the frequency of SL in our sample of HCWs while using PPE, we underscore the need for continuous biosafety monitoring to improve occupational well-being among HCWs.