Immediate-use steam sterilization sterilizes N95 masks without mask damage

In countries where equipment shortages have progressed, healthcare workers are currently being infected with SARS-CoV-2 at 3 times the rate of the general population, which reduces the ability of hospitals to provide adequate care and increases COVID-19 patient death rates. [...]it is essential to c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Infection control and hospital epidemiology 2020-09, Vol.41 (9), p.1104-1105
Main Authors: Carrillo, Irene O, Floyd, Anna C E, Valverde, Christian M, Tingle, Travis N, Zabaneh, Firas R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Disease control
Disease transmission
Health care
Humans
Irradiation
Letter to the Editor
Masks
Medical personnel
Medical supplies
N95 Respirators
Polyesters
Protective equipment
Respirators
Respiratory Protective Devices
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Steam
Sterilization
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Summary:In countries where equipment shortages have progressed, healthcare workers are currently being infected with SARS-CoV-2 at 3 times the rate of the general population, which reduces the ability of hospitals to provide adequate care and increases COVID-19 patient death rates. [...]it is essential to create a protocol for sanitizing masks without reducing efficacy. Washing these masks with water decreased performance by 21%.3 Sanitizing N95 masks with alcohol similarly reduced performance by 37% and resulted in significant shrinkage.4 Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation has been tested for sanitization of N95 masks, but in 90% of cases, the integrity of the masks was compromised.5,6 Sanitization by bleach or ethylene oxide created significant risk to mask wearers due to residue left on the mask.6 Thus, novel methods of sanitizing N95 masks to ensure safety of clinicians working in factious disease units is needed. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy/contingency-capacity-strategies.html.
ISSN:0899-823X
1559-6834
DOI:10.1017/ice.2020.145