Mask decontamination methods (model N95) for respiratory protection: a rapid review

Background N95 respiratory protection masks are used by healthcare professionals to prevent contamination from infectious microorganisms transmitted by droplets or aerosols. Methods We conducted a rapid review of the literature analyzing the effectiveness of decontamination methods for mask reuse. The database searches were carried out up to September 2020. The systematic review was conducted in a way which simplified the stages of a complete systematic review, due to the worldwide necessity for reliable fast evidences on this matter. Results A total of 563 articles were retrieved of which 48 laboratory-based studies were selected. Fifteen decontamination methods were included in the studies. A total of 19 laboratory studies used hydrogen peroxide, 21 studies used ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, 4 studies used ethylene oxide, 11 studies used dry heat, 9 studies used moist heat, 5 studies used ethanol, two studies used isopropanol solution, 11 studies used microwave oven, 10 studies used sodium hypochlorite, 7 studies used autoclave, 3 studies used an electric rice cooker, 1 study used cleaning wipes, 1 study used bar soap, 1 study used water, 1 study used multi-purpose high-level disinfection cabinet, and another 1 study used chlorine dioxide. Five methods that are promising are as follows: hydrogen peroxide vapor, ultraviolet irradiation, dry heat, wet heat/pasteurization, and microwave ovens. Conclusions We have presented the best available evidence on mask decontamination; nevertheless, its applicability is limited due to few studies on the topic and the lack of studies on real environments.

Mask decontamination methods (model N95) for respiratory protection: a rapid review

Background: N95 respiratory protection masks are used by healthcare professionals to prevent contamination from infectious microorganisms transmitted by droplets or aerosols.Methods: We conducted a rapid review of the literature analyzing the effectiveness of decontamination methods for mask reuse. The database searches were carried out up to September 2020. The systematic review was conducted in a way which simplified the stages of a complete systematic review, due to the worldwide necessity on reliable fast evidences on this matter.Results: A total of 563 articles were retrieved of which 48 laboratory-based studies were selected. Fifteen decontamination methods were included in the studies. A total of 19 laboratory studies used Hydrogen peroxide, 21 studies used ultraviolet germicidal irradiation,4 studies used ethylene oxide, 11 studies used dry heat, 9 studies used moist heat, 5 studies used ethanol, two studies used isopropanol solution, 11 studies used microwave oven, 10 studies used sodium hypochlorite, seven studies used autoclave, three studies used electric rice cooker, one study used cleaning wipes, one study used bar soap, one study used water, one study used multi-purpose high-level disinfection cabinet and another one used chlorine dioxide. Five methods promising: hydrogen peroxide vapor, ultraviolet irradiation, dry heat, wet heat/pasteurization, and microwave ovens.Conclusions: We have presented the best available evidence on masks decontamination, nevertheless, its applicability are limited due to few studies on the topic and lack of studies on real environments.

Sewage, Salt, Silica and SARS-CoV-2 (4S): An economical kit-free method for direct capture of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater

ABSTRACTWastewater-based epidemiology is an emerging tool to monitor COVID-19 infection levels by measuring the concentration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in wastewater. There remains a need to improve wastewater RNA extraction methods’ sensitivity, speed, and reduce reliance on often expensive commercial reagents to make wastewater-based epidemiology more accessible. We present a kit-free wastewater RNA extraction method, titled “Sewage, Salt, Silica and SARS-CoV-2” (4S), that employs the abundant and affordable reagents sodium chloride (NaCl), ethanol and silica RNA capture matrices to recover 6-fold more SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater than an existing ultrafiltration-based method. The 4S method concurrently recovered pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and human 18S ribosomal subunit rRNA, both suitable as fecal concentration controls. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations measured in three sewersheds corresponded to the relative prevalence of COVID-19 infection determined via clinical testing. Lastly, controlled experiments indicate that the 4S method prevented RNA degradation during storage of wastewater samples, was compatible with heat pasteurization, and could be performed in approximately 3 hours. Overall, the 4S method is promising for effective, economical, and accessible wastewater-based epidemiology for SARS-CoV-2, providing another tool to fight the global pandemic.SYNOPSISThe 4S method for measuring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is promising for effective, economical, and accessible wastewater-based epidemiology.ABSTRACT ART

Decontamination methods for respiratory protection mask model N95: a rapid review

Background: N95 respiratory protection masks are used by healthcare professionals to prevent contamination with infectious microorganisms transmitted by droplets or aerosols.Methods: We conducted a rapid review of the literature analyzing the effectiveness of decontamination methods for mask reuse. The review was carried out in September 2020 using a simplification of the formal systematic review process, which simplified the stages of a complete systematic review, including the exclusion of an assessment of study methodology.Results: A total of 563 articles were retrieved of which 48 laboratory-based studies were selected. Fifteen decontamination methods were included in the studies. Hydrogen peroxide was evaluated by 19 laboratory studies, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation by 21, ethylene oxide by 4, dry heat by 11, moist heat by 9, ethanol by 5, isopropanol solution by 2, microwave oven by 11, sodium hypochlorite by 10, autoclave by 7, electric rice cooker by 3, cleaning wipes by 1, bar soap and water 1, multi-Purpose High-Level Disinfection Cabinet by 1 and chlorine dioxide by 1. Five methods appear promising: hydrogen peroxide vapor, ultraviolet irradiation, dry heat, wet heat/pasteurization, and microwave ovens.Conclusions: Positive results should be considered with caution as they represent a small number of studies, reflect ideal laboratory conditions, and may have limited applicability in realistic situations and for health systems.

Decontamination Methods for Respiratory Protection Mask Model N95: A Rapid Review

Background: N95 respiratory protection masks are used by healthcare professionals to prevent contamination with infectious microorganisms transmitted by droplets or aerosols. Methods: We conducted a rapid review of the literature analyzing the effectiveness of decontamination methods for mask reuse. The review was carried out in April 2020 using a simplification of the formal systematic review process. A total of 166 articles were retrieved of which 17 laboratory-based studies were selected. Results: Two of the studies only examined the effectiveness of decontamination methods, seven only reported on the maintenance of mask integrity, and eight considered both outcomes. Twelve decontamination methods were included in the studies. Conclusions: Positive results should be considered with caution as they represent a small number of studies, reflect ideal laboratory conditions, and may have limited applicability in realistic situations and for health systems. Nonetheless, five methods appear promising: hydrogen peroxide vapor, ultraviolet irradiation, dry heat, wet heat/pasteurization, and microwave ovens.

A Preliminary Evaluation to Establish Bath Pasteurization Guidelines for Hard Cider

Though in-package water bath heat pasteurization for hard cider production is commonly employed to improve product safety and stability, there is a considerable lack of research-based guidelines to inform industry practices. In this study, fermented cider was bottled and inoculated with high populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii yeast. The bottles were then subjected to water bath pasteurization 60 °C at varying lengths of time. For both yeast species, populations were reduced to undetectable levels after just 1 min of processing time. Though validation of each individual process is recommended, cider producers may be able to sufficiently reduce the risks of spoilage organisms with minimal water bath pasteurization, especially when combined with other methods to reduce the presence of spoilage organisms.

Impact of Pasteurization Process on the Quality and Marination Properties of Onion Juice

This study aims to compare UV-C irradiation and conventional heat treatment to produce pasteurized onion juice used as a meat marinating agent. The process conditions maximizing the inactivation of target microorganism Escherichia coli K-12 were; 0.5 mm sample depth, 30 min irradiation, 7.5 mW/cm2 UV incident intensity for UV-C and, 74.5°C and 12 min for heat treatment. Except pH and non-enzymatic browning index, differences between physicochemical properties of raw, UV-C and heat-treated onion juices were significant. Springiness and chewiness of unmarinated beefsteaks were higher compared to the ones marinated with the fresh and pasteurized onion juice (UV-C and heat). Pasteurization of onion juice (UV-C and heat) did not significantly affect general liking scores compared to beefsteaks marinated in untreated onion juice.