Single-use N95 respirators can be decontaminated and used again, study finds

N95 respirators,which are widely worn by health care workers treating patients with COVID-19and are designed to be used only once, can be decontaminated effectively and used up to three times, according to research by UCLA scientists and colleagues.An early-release version of their study has beenpublished online, with the full study to appear in September in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.N95 respirators reduce exposure to airborne infectious agents,including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,and are one of the key pieces of personal protective equipment used by clinical workers in preventing the spread of the virus. Critical shortages of these masks have driven efforts to find new decontamination methods that can extend their use.“Although N95 respirators are designed for just one use before disposal, in times of shortage, N95 respirators can be decontaminated and reused up to three times,” said James Lloyd-Smith, a co-author of the study and a UCLA professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. “But the integrity of t he respirator’s fit and seal must be maintained.”In a controlled laboratory setting, the researchers testedseveral decontaminationmethods onsmall sections of N95 filter fabric that had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2.The methods includedvaporized hydrogen peroxide,dry heat at70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit), ultraviolet light anda 70% ethanol spray. All four methods eliminated detectable viable virus traces from the N95 fabri...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news