scholarly journals DECONTAMINATION INTERVENTIONS FOR THE REUSE OF SURGICAL MASK PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE): A PROTOCOL FOR A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Zorko ◽  
Karen Choong ◽  
Dayre McNally ◽  
Katie O'Hearn ◽  
Margaret Sampson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
High Demand ◽  
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

As the global spread of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) escalates, the high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has created shortages of this equipment globally and prompted the need to ensure appropriate stewardship and develop strategies to conserve supply. Surgical masks have broad and commonplace applications as PPE, including in the care of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients, and for the care of the general patient population in areas where community spread of COVID-19 is of concern. Surgical mask rationing and conservation is therefore a priority to ensure adequate supply during a pandemic. Several methods have been considered to decontaminate and allow the reuse of single-use PPE, such as hydrogen peroxide vapour and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, but to date this literature has not been comprehensively synthesized. The objective of this systematic review is to identify and synthesize data from published studies evaluating interventions used to decontaminate or treat surgical mask PPE for the purposes of reuse.

scholarly journals Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) for Facemask Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Protocol for a Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dayre McNally ◽  
Katie O'Hearn ◽  
Margaret Sampson ◽  
Lindsey Sikora
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Children’S Hospital ◽  
Eastern Ontario

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of PPR (namely surgical masks, N95 masks, and gowns) has been experienced by some hospitals and could be expected in others due to a rapid increase need. One method of addressing the issue of PPE shortage is to decontaminate and re-use PPE. There are anecdotal reports and published literature evaluating the potential of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) as effective method for PPE decontamination, without negatively impacting function. To date this literature has not been comprehensively synthesized and the purpose of this review is to systematically review the existing literature on UVGI for facemask PPE. This information will be used to develop a decontamination protocol for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and shared with other hospitals in Ontario, Canada, and internationally.

scholarly journals Efficacy and Safety of Disinfectants for Decontamination of N95 and SN95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators: Protocol for a Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie O'Hearn ◽  
Richard J Webster ◽  
Anne Tsampalieros ◽  
Margaret Sampson ◽  
Lindsey Sikora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Eastern Ontario

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), namely surgical masks, N95 masks, and gowns, has been experienced by some hospitals and could be expected in others due to a rapidly increased need. One method of addressing the shortage is to decontaminate and re-use PPE. The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) specifically recommends N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) for healthcare workers who are interacting with patients with COVID-19. There are anecdotal reports and published literature evaluating the potential of using disinfectants, such as hydrogen peroxide and bleach to decontaminate FFRs, with mixed reports of impact on structural integrity. To date this literature has not been comprehensively synthesized and the purpose of this review is to systematically review the existing literature on the use of disinfectants for the decontamination of facemask PPE.This information will be used to contribute to FFR decontamination protocols at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and shared with other hospitals in Ontario, Canada, and internationally.

scholarly journals Covid-19 and the N95 respirator shortage: Closing the gap

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 958-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Nogee ◽  
Anthony J. Tomassoni
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Closing The Gap

AbstractDue to extreme shortages of personal protective equipment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare workers will be forced to recycle protective masks intended for disposal after a single use. We propose investigating the use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation to sterilize masks of SARS-CoV-2 for safer reuse.

scholarly journals Decontamination Interventions for the Reuse of Surgical Mask Personal Protective Equipment: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J Zorko ◽  
Shira Gertsman ◽  
Katie O'Hearn ◽  
Nicholas Timmerman ◽  
Nasser Ambu-Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Study Characteristics ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Citation Screening

Background: The high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the novel coronavirus outbreak has created global shortages and prompted the need to develop strategies to conserve supply. Surgical mask PPE have a broad application of use in a pandemic setting, but little is known regarding decontamination interventions to allow for their reuse. Objective: Identify and synthesize data from original published studies evaluating interventions to decontaminate surgical masks for the purpose of reuse. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Global Health, the WHO COVID-19 database, Google Scholar, DisasterLit, preprint servers, and prominent journals from inception to April 8, 2020 for prospective original research on decontamination interventions for surgical mask PPE. Citation screening was conducted independently in duplicate. Study characteristics, interventions, and outcomes were extracted from included studies by two independent reviewers. Outcomes of interest included impact of decontamination interventions on surgical mask performance and germicidal effects. Results: Seven studies met eligibility criteria: one evaluated the effects of heat and chemical decontamination interventions applied after mask use on mask performance, and six evaluated interventions applied prior to mask use to enhance antimicrobial properties and/or mask performance. Mask performance and germicidal effects were both evaluated in heterogenous test conditions across a variety of mask samples (whole masks and pieces or individual mask layers). Safety outcomes were infrequently evaluated. Mask performance was best preserved with dry heat decontamination. Germicidal effects were best in salt-, N-halamine- and nanoparticle-coated masks. Conclusion: There is limited evidence on the safety or efficacy of surgical mask decontamination. Given the heterogenous methods used in the studies to date, we are unable to draw conclusions on the most appropriate, safest intervention(s) for decontaminating surgical masks for the purpose of reuse.

scholarly journals Assessment of N95 respirator decontamination and re-use for SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Fischer ◽  
Dylan H. Morris ◽  
Neeltje van Doremalen ◽  
Shanda Sarchette ◽  
M. Jeremiah Matson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Nosocomial Transmission ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Respiratory Protection ◽  
Single Use ◽  
N95 Respirators

The unprecedented pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has created worldwide shortages of personal protective equipment, in particular respiratory protection such as N95 respirators. SARS-CoV-2 transmission is frequently occurring in hospital settings, with numerous reported cases of nosocomial transmission highlighting the vulnerability of healthcare workers. In general, N95 respirators are designed for single use prior to disposal. Here, we have analyzed four readily available and often used decontamination methods: UV, 70% ethanol, 70C heat and vaporized hydrogen peroxide for inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on N95 respirators. Equally important we assessed the function of the N95 respirators after multiple wear and decontamination sessions.

scholarly journals Decontamination Interventions for the Reuse of Surgical Mask Personal Protective Equipment: A Protocol for an Updated Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J Zorko ◽  
Karen Choong ◽  
James Dayre McNally ◽  
Katie O'Hearn ◽  
Lindsey Sikora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
High Demand ◽  
Related Literature ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Health Administrators

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed surgical and medical facemask PPE in high demand. Their use spans a variety of healthcare settings and many hospitals have implemented universal masking policies. Furthermore, the emergence of COVID-19 variants with greater transmissibility and infectivity has led some countries to recommend or mandate widespread public use of 3-layer medical masks in lieu of homemade masks or face coverings. Since the publication of our original systematic review, COVID-19-related literature has evolved from >2000 citations in mid-March 2020 to >80,000 citations by the beginning of December 2020. Coupled with the protracted course of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to threaten facemask PPE supply and demand, an updated systematic review on decontamination interventions for surgical masks is needed to reflect critical new evidence in order to best inform clinicians, infection control experts, and public health administrators on how best to advise safe decontamination and reuse practices. The objective of this systematic review is to update a previously conducted systematic review and identify and synthesize new data from published studies evaluating interventions used to decontaminate or treat surgical mask PPE for the purposes of reuse.

scholarly journals Microwave- and Heat-Based Decontamination for Facemask Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Protocol for a Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dayre McNally ◽  
Katie O'Hearn ◽  
Shira Gertsman ◽  
Margaret Sampson ◽  
Lindsey Sikora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Children’S Hospital ◽  
Eastern Ontario

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of PPE (namely surgical masks, N95 masks, and gowns) has been experienced by some hospitals and could be expected in others due to a rapidly increased need. One method of addressing the issue of PPE shortage is to decontaminate and re-use PPE. The CDC specifically recommends N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) for healthcare workers who are interacting with patients with COVID-19.There are anecdotal reports and published literature evaluating the potential of microwave and heat methods as an effective method for FFR decontamination for reuse, with mixed reports of impact on structural integrity. To date this literature has not been comprehensively synthesized and the purpose of this review is to systematically review the existing literature on microwave and heat-based decontamination of facemask PPE.This information will be used to contribute to PPE decontamination protocols at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and shared with other hospitals in Ontario, Canada, and internationally.

scholarly journals Assessment of N95 respirator decontamination and re-use for SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Fischer ◽  
Dylan H. Morris ◽  
Neeltje van Doremalen ◽  
Shanda Sarchette ◽  
Jeremiah Matson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Uv Radiation ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Nosocomial Transmission ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Respiratory Protection ◽  
Single Use ◽  
N95 Respirators

The unprecedented pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has created worldwide shortages of personal protective equipment, in particular respiratory protection such as N95 respirators. SARS-CoV-2 transmission is frequently occurring in hospital settings, with numerous reported cases of nosocomial transmission highlighting the vulnerability of healthcare workers. In general, N95 respirators are designed for single use prior to disposal. Several groups have addressed the potential for re-use of N95 respirators from a mechanical or from a decontamination perspective. Here, we analyzed four different decontamination methods – UV radiation (260 – 285 nm), 70ºC heat, 70% ethanol and vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) – for their ability to reduce contamination with infectious SARS-CoV-2 and their effect on N95 respirator function.

scholarly journals Effect of various decontamination procedures on disposable N95 mask integrity and SARS-CoV-2 infectivity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Smith ◽  
Haley Hanseler ◽  
John Welle ◽  
Rogan Rattray ◽  
Mary Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Ultraviolet Light ◽  
Test Data ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cell Infection ◽  
High Demand ◽  
Significant Change ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Infectious Potential

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has created a high demand on personal protective equipment, including disposable N95 masks. Given the need for mask reuse, we tested the feasibility of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP), ultraviolet light (UV), and ethanol decontamination strategies on N95 mask integrity and the ability to remove the infectious potential of SARS-CoV-2. FIT test data showed functional degradation by both ethanol and UV decontamination to different degrees. VHP treated masks showed no significant change in function after two treatments. We also report a single SARS-CoV-2 virucidal experiment using Vero E6 cell infection. We hope our data will guide further research for evidenced-based decisions for disposable N95 mask reuse and help protect caregivers from SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens.

RESEARCH: Dry Heat Processing of Single-Use Respirators and Surgical Masks

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 410-416
Author(s):  
Joyce M. Hansen ◽  
Scott Weiss ◽  
Terra A. Kremer ◽  
Myrelis Aguilar ◽  
Gerald McDonnell
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Airborne Particles ◽  
Heat Processing ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Dry Heat ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Single Use

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has challenged healthcare providers in maintaining the supply of critical personal protective equipment, including single-use respirators and surgical masks. Single-use respirators and surgical masks can reduce risks from the inhalation of airborne particles and microbial contamination. The recent high-volume demand for single-use respirators and surgical masks has resulted in many healthcare facilities considering processing to address critical shortages. The dry heat process of 80°C (176°F) for two hours (120 min) has been confirmed to be an appropriate method for single-use respirator and surgical mask processing.

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