The importance of the minimum dosage necessary for UVC decontamination of N95 respirators during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Effectiveness of Cloth Masks for Protection Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

“…CDC and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control initially recommended that all healthcare workers use respirators; however, because of shortages, they later recommended respirator use for highrisk situations only (27,28). Some countries also recommend sterilizing and decontaminating respirators for reuse; however, limited evidence supports these practices (29), and they may not be feasible in lowand middle-income countries.…”

Ultraviolet-C and other methods of decontamination of filtering facepiece N-95 respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…As not all devices are built the same, incorrect dosing may confer the risk of inadequately killing the viral pathogens and pose serious hazards to healthcare workers. 26 The effects of UVC on human health must also be considered. Unlike UVA and UVB, UVC does not penetrate deep into the tissues, hence, adverse effects are confined to the superficial layers of the skin and eyes.…”

Response of an Obstetric Unit during the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: Experiences from a Tertiary Care Center

“…Decontamination and reuse of disposable filtering facepiece respirators such as N95 masks was being done. 6 7 Our institutional policy was to not discard N95 respirators routinely after single use, through the use of a covering mask (that could be disposed) to prevent contamination of the underlying N95 respirator. Exceptions included loss of structural or functional integrity of the mask or soiling of the mask.…”