Decontamination and Reuse of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators: Where Do We Stand?

Cassorla, Lydia

doi:10.1213/ane.0000000000005254

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…There are several meta-analyses that compare the performance of various mask decontamination methods. [ 106 , 118 , [144] , [145] , [146] , [147] ] Although a certain degree of inconsistency exists, it appears that most meta-analyses have drawn the conclusion that VHP is the most reliable and safest method to decontaminate N95 masks for multiple cycles.…”

Section: Decontamination and Reuse Of Masksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Face masks against COVID-19: Standards, efficacy, testing and decontamination methods

Boisvert

Zuo

2021

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science

110

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused a global pandemic on a scale not seen for over a century. Increasing evidence suggests that respiratory droplets and aerosols are likely the most common route of transmission for SARS-CoV-2. Since the virus can be spread by presymptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, universal face masking has been recommended as a straightforward and low-cost strategy to mitigate virus transmission. Numerous governments and public health agencies around the world have advocated for or mandated the wearing of masks in public settings, especially in situations where social distancing is not possible. However, the efficacy of wearing a mask remains controversial. This interdisciplinary review summarizes the current, state-of-the-art understanding of mask usage against COVID-19. It covers three main aspects of mask usage amid the pandemic: quality standards for various face masks and their fundamental filtration mechanisms, empirical methods for quantitatively determining mask integrity and particle filtration efficiency, and decontamination methods that allow for the reuse of traditionally disposable N95 and surgical masks. The focus is given to the fundamental physicochemical and engineering sciences behind each aspect covered in this review, providing novel insights into the current understanding of mask usage to curb COVID-19 spread.

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Section: Decontamination and Reuse Of Masksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Face masks against COVID-19: Standards, efficacy, testing and decontamination methods

Boisvert

Zuo

2021

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science

110

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“…In light of perceived shortages of N95 and FFP masks occurring during the multiple waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections, we acknowledge that in some centers, re-sterilization and reuse of these masks might be needed. 31 , 32 We recommend fit testing for masks which are being used.…”

Section: General Considerations and Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thoracic Anesthesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: 2021 Updated Recommendations by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) Thoracic Subspecialty Committee

Şentürk

El-Tahan

Shelley

et al. 2021

Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia

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This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

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“…The results of Ozog et al [27] and Fischer et al [15] suggest that a dose exceeding 1.5 J/cm 2 may be required to kill SARS-CoV-2 effectively, and additional disinfection may be needed for the straps. Moreover, the effectiveness of ultraviolet varies considerably for different types of FFRs [19] , and the position and orientation of N95 masks must be carefully arranged to avoid shadowing [28] and allow complete exposure to ultraviolet light [27] . The efficacy and safety of the ethylene oxide method on disinfecting used respirators are uncertain and controversial due to the limited studies so far [19] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The efficacy and safety of the ethylene oxide method on disinfecting used respirators are uncertain and controversial due to the limited studies so far [19] . In particular, insufficient aeration of ethylene oxide may cause severe injury to human health [28] . Ethanol decontamination is found to destroy respirators’ filtration efficiency after only the first decontamination cycle [15] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can decontamination and reuse of N95 respirators during COVID-19 pandemic provide energy, environmental, and economic benefits?

Tao

You

2021

Applied Energy

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The widespread COVID-19 pandemic led to a shortage in the supply of N95 respirators in the United States until May 2021. In this study, we address the energy, environmental, and economic benefits of the decontamination-and-reuse of the N95 masks. Two popular decontamination methods, including dry heat and vapor hydrogen peroxide (VHP), are investigated in this study for their effective pathogen inactivation and favorable performance in preserving filtration efficiency and structural integrity of respirators. Two multiple reuse cases, under which the N95 masks are disinfected and used five times with the dry heat method and 20 times using the VHP method, are considered and compared with a single-use case. Compared to the single-use case, the dry heat-based multiple-use case reduces carbon footprint by 50% and cumulative energy demand (CED) by 17%, while the VHP-based case decreases carbon footprint by 67% and CED by 58%. The dry-heat-based and VHP-based multiple reuse cases also present environmental benefits in most of the other impact categories, primarily due to substituting new N95 respirators with decontaminated ones. Decontaminating and reusing respirators costs 77% and 89% less than the case of single-use and disposal. The sensitivity analysis results show that the geographical variation in the power grid and the times of respirator use are the most influential factors for carbon footprint and CED, respectively. The result also reaffirms the energy, environmental, and economic favorability of the decontamination and reuse of N95 respirators.

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Decontamination and Reuse of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators: Where Do We Stand?

Abstract: Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Cited by 13 publications

References 86 publications

Face masks against COVID-19: Standards, efficacy, testing and decontamination methods

Face masks against COVID-19: Standards, efficacy, testing and decontamination methods

Thoracic Anesthesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: 2021 Updated Recommendations by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) Thoracic Subspecialty Committee

Can decontamination and reuse of N95 respirators during COVID-19 pandemic provide energy, environmental, and economic benefits?

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