Mask decontamination - a review of the literature

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been responsible for 401,000 deaths worldwide (06/09/2020). Contact and droplet precautions must be taken to stop the spread of this virus, which is essentially transmitted by respiratory routes. Reprocessing units for medical devices (RUMEDs) have had to quickly adapt to the decontamination (reprocessing) of medical devices that had come into contact with COVID-19 patients. Moreover, to deal with shortages in their establishments, they have had to respond to demands for decontamination of single-use face masks and filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). A comprehensive review of the literature was carried out to describe, analyse and discuss effective methods for decontamination of single-use masks. We can conclude that few studies have tested the overall decontamination process ranging from collection and sorting through cleaning and packaging to sterilization. While the range of mask models tested was limited, and further compounded by a low level of evidence, steam or hydrogen peroxide sterilization would appear to be the most appropriate processes in healthcare settings.

Involvement of hospital sterilization units in the Covid crisis-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, when no one had foreseen that it would spread so rapidly, unprecedented sterilisation problems were encountered in the operating room. The units had to adapt very quickly, while respecting the additional “droplet” precautions required to deal with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. But also to implement alternative solutions to compensate for the shortage of equipment, medical devices and medicines, in accordance with the rules of proper use of pharmacies for indoor use. © 2020 z Au début de la pandémie de Covid-19, alors que personne n'avait envisagé qu'elle se répandrait aussi vite, des problématiques inédites de stérilisation ont été rencontrées au bloc opératoire z Il s'agissait pour les unités de s'adapter très rapidement, en respectant les précautions complémentaires “gouttelettes” exigées face au severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 z Mais aussi de mettre en place des solutions alternatives pour pallier la pénurie d’équipements, de dispositifs médicaux et de médicaments, conformes aux règles de bonne utilisation des pharmacies à usage intérieur. © 2020