PAPR
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Powered air-purifying respirator |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
PAPR stands for Powered air-purifying respirator, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Battery-powered respirator that blows filtered air into a loose-fitting hood or tight facepiece, providing high protection against airborne infections without fit testing for hood models. It is used by workers who fail N95 fit testing, have facial hair or perform high-risk procedures.
Example: Intubation of suspected measles patient performed with PAPR hood and full barrier precautions.
Usage notes
Pronounced "PAY-per". Loose-fitting hood PAPRs suit people for whom N95 fit is impossible. Batteries and filters require maintenance, and the motor noise can make communication harder. They were widely used during Ebola and COVID-19 responses.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- N95 – N95 filtering facepiece respirator
- NHSN – National Healthcare Safety Network
- NSTI – Necrotizing soft tissue infection
- NTM – Nontuberculous mycobacteria
- OI – Opportunistic infection
- OPAT – Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy
- PCP – Pneumocystis pneumonia
- PEP – Post-exposure prophylaxis
- PHN – Postherpetic neuralgia
- PLWH – People living with HIV
- PPD – Purified protein derivative (tuberculin skin test)
- PPSV23 – 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.