SARS-CoV-2 aerosol generation during respiratory equipment reprocessing.
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control
; 10(1): 82, 2021 05 27.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1247603
ABSTRACT
Aerosolization may occur during reprocessing of medical devices. With the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, it is important to understand the necessity of using respirators in the cleaning area of the sterile processing department. To evaluate the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in the air of the sterile processing department during the reprocessing of contaminated medical devices. Air and surface samples were collected from the sterile processing department of two teaching tertiary hospitals during the reprocessing of respiratory equipment used in patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 and from intensive care units during treatment of these patients. SARS-CoV-2 was detected only in 1 air sample before the beginning of decontamination process. Viable severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA was not detected in any sample collected from around symptomatic patients or in sterile processing department samples. The cleaning of respiratory equipment does not cause aerosolization of SARS-CoV-2. We believe that the use of medical masks is sufficient while reprocessing medical devices during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Decontamination
/
Equipment Reuse
/
Aerosols
/
Personal Protective Equipment
/
SARS-CoV-2
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Language:
English
Journal:
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S13756-021-00955-2
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