N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) Process for Decontamination and Reuse
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 resulting in COVID-19 has severely stressed the worldwide healthcare system and has created dangerous shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) including N95 filtering facepiece respirators (N95 FFRs). In an effort to extend the stockpile of N95 FFRs at our institution and reduce risks associated with reuse of untreated, contaminated N95 FFRs, we developed a surface decontamination procedure involving the delivery of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to used N95 FFRs. The evidence base supporting this program includes: 1) UVGI has been shown to effectively inactivate a wide range of human pathogens including coronaviruses and other human respiratory viruses; 2) UVGI has been demonstrated to inactivate human respiratory viruses, including coronaviruses, on various models of N95 FFRs; 3) levels of UVGI needed to inactive human respiratory viruses are well below the level of irradiation that adversely affects the fit and filtration characteristics of N95 FFRs; and 4) UVGI can be safely administered when appropriate safeguards are in place. We also recognize there is uncertainty regarding how long an N95 FFR maintains properties to achieve adequate fit, requiring providers to inspect FFRs before and after reuse. Any organization considering a decontamination strategy (including UVGI, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, warm moist heat, etc.) to deal with lack of supply or potential lack of N95 FFR should validate their own procedures, including desired surrogate microbial reduction and retained filter efficiency and fit. Herein, we briefly describe our procedure to surface decontaminate and reuse N95 FFRs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1094346
Entities
People
- Angela Vasa
- Jerald D. Farke
- John J. Lowe
- Kathleen Boulter
- Katie D. Paladino
- Kelly Cawcutt
- Lauren Hinkle
- Mark E. Rupp
- Mark Emodi
- Michael Wadman
- Richard Hankins
- Shawn Gibbs
- Shelly Schwedhelm
- Suzanne Watson
- Terry Micheels
Organizations
- University of Nebraska Medical Center