Audience: These considerations are intended for use by federal, state, and local public health officials, respiratory protection program managers, leaders in occupational health services and infection prevention and control programs, and other leaders in healthcare settings who are responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures for preventing pathogen transmission in healthcare settings.

Purpose: This document offers a series of strategies or options to conserve supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) in healthcare settings when there is limited supply due to increased use and demand (e.g., as may occur during an infectious disease pandemic or epidemic) or supply chain disruption. Consideration of some contingency and crisis capacity strategies may also require authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or enforcement discretion by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).