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© 2020 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Objectives:

Surgical masks and N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and protect medical personnel. Increased demands for surgical masks and N95 FFRs during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in the shortage crisis. However, there is no standard protocol for safe reuse of the N95 FFRs. In this systematic review, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of existing decontamination methods of surgical masks and N95 FFRs and provide evidence-based recommendations for selecting an appropriate decontamination method.

Methods:

We performed systematic searches of Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid EMBASE electronic databases. The last search was performed April 11, 2020. Any trials studying surgical masks and/or N95 FFRs decontamination were included. Outcomes were disinfections of virus and bacteria, restoration of the filtration efficiency, and maintenance of the physical structure of the mask.

Results:

Overall, 15 studies and 14 decontamination methods were identified. A low level of evidence supported 4 decontamination methods: ultraviolet (UV) germicidal irradiation (9 studies), moist heat (5 studies), microwave-generated steam (4 studies), and hydrogen peroxide vapor (4 studies). Therefore, we recommended these 4 methods, and we recommended against use were given for the other 10 methods.

Conclusions:

A low level of evidence supported the use of UV germicidal irradiation, moist heat, microwave-generated steam, and hydrogen peroxide vapor for decontamination and reuse of N95 FFRs. These decontamination methods were effective for viral and bacterial disinfection as well as restoration of the filtration efficiency, and the physical structure of the FFRs.

Details

Title
Decontamination and reuse of surgical masks and N95 filtering facepiece respirators during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review
Author
Seresirikachorn, Kachorn 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Phoophiboon, Vorakamol 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Chobarporn, Thitiporn 3 ; Tiankanon, Kasenee 4 ; Aeumjaturapat, Songklot 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Chusakul, Supinda 1 ; Snidvongs, Kornkiat 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Endoscopic Nasal and Sinus Surgery Excellence Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand 
 Division of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Excellence Center for Critical Care Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand 
 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand 
 Division of Gastroenterology, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand 
Pages
25-30
Section
Original Article
Publication year
2021
Publication date
Jan 2021
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
ISSN
0899823X
e-ISSN
15596834
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2730819740
Copyright
© 2020 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.