Cath Lab nurses- mask or no mask?

[sauconyrunner]

I was asked by the cath lab manager to find some CDC guidelines for covering hair and masking in the Cardiac Cath Lab. I said, sure, no problem...then I started looking.

Seems there is a lot of disagreement and variation in Cath labs.

Can anyone tell me if there is some sort of RECENT guidelines for Cath lab attire? I've never worked in the Cath Lab, but I am surprised that I couldn't really just pull up some sort of agreed upon standards. Have I missed something? THank you!

[sauconyrunner]

Thanks all. I did pull finally all the data for maximum sterile field for Central line insertions. It's amazing to me that this is in question these days. It took me a long time to find any articles as all the studies seem to have been done back in like 1993.

I was surprised too that a PICC nurse had to wear a mask and such but not in the Cath lab?