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  • Validation of N95 Filtering...
    Wigginton, Krista R; Arts, Peter J; Clack, Herek L; Fitzsimmons, William J; Gamba, Mirko; Harrison, Katherine R; LeBar, William; Lauring, Adam S; Li, Lucinda; Roberts, William W; Rockey, Nicole C; Torreblanca, Jania; Young, Carol; Anderegg, Loïc G; Cohn, Amy M; Doyle, John M; Meisenhelder, Cole M; Raskin, Lutgarde; Love, Nancy G; Kaye, Keith S

    Open forum infectious diseases, 02/2021, Letnik: 8, Številka: 2
    Journal Article

    Abstract Background Due to unprecedented shortages in N95 filtering facepiece respirators, healthcare systems have explored N95 reprocessing. No single, full-scale reprocessing publication has reported an evaluation including multiple viruses, bacteria, and fungi along with respirator filtration and fit. Methods We explored reprocessing methods using new 3M 1860 N95 respirators, including moist (50%–75% relative humidity RH) heat (80–82°C for 30 minutes), ethylene oxide (EtO), pulsed xenon UV-C (UV-PX), hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (HPGP), and hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV). Respirator samples were analyzed using 4 viruses (MS2, phi6, influenza A virus IAV, murine hepatitis virus MHV)), 3 bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores, and vegetative bacteria), and Aspergillus niger. Different application media were tested. Decontaminated respirators were evaluated for filtration integrity and fit. Results Heat with moderate RH most effectively inactivated virus, resulting in reductions of >6.6-log10 MS2, >6.7-log10 Phi6, >2.7-log10 MHV, and >3.9-log10 IAV and prokaryotes, except for G stearothermohphilus. Hydrogen peroxide vapor was moderately effective at inactivating tested viruses, resulting in 1.5- to >4-log10 observable inactivation. Staphylococcus aureus inactivation by HPV was limited. Filtration efficiency and proper fit were maintained after 5 cycles of heat with moderate RH and HPV. Although it was effective at decontamination, HPGP resulted in decreased filtration efficiency, and EtO treatment raised toxicity concerns. Observed virus inactivation varied depending upon the application media used. Conclusions Both moist heat and HPV are scalable N95 reprocessing options because they achieve high levels of biological indicator inactivation while maintaining respirator fit and integrity. Several decontamination methods were evaluated for N95 reprocessing, with regards to inactivation of multiple viruses, bacteria, and fungi and with regards to perseveration of filtration and fit. Moist heat and hydrogen peroxide vapor were the most effective methods.