Should We or Should We Not Reuse Filtering Face Piece Masks? A Review

Disposable filtering face piece respirators (FFRs) are usually not approved for routine practice of decontamination and reuse. However, such practice of decontamination and reuse may be needed only as a crisis capacity strategy to ensure continued availability. The current severe acute respiratory s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian journal of critical care medicine 2020-09, Vol.24 (9), p.857-862
Main Authors: Singh, Ritu, Azim, Afzal, Singh, Nidhi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Review
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Summary:Disposable filtering face piece respirators (FFRs) are usually not approved for routine practice of decontamination and reuse. However, such practice of decontamination and reuse may be needed only as a crisis capacity strategy to ensure continued availability. The current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic would help us enlighten about more effective and efficient ways of decontamination and reuse. Based on the limited research available, ultraviolet irradiation, vapors of hydrogen peroxide, and moist heat showed the most promising potential methods to decontaminate FFRs. This article summarizes available research about decontamination of FFRs before reuse. Singh R, Azim A, Singh N. Should We or Should We Not Reuse Filtering Face Piece Masks? A Review. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(9):857-862.
ISSN:0972-5229
1998-359X
DOI:10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23565