Qualitative and Quantitative Fitting Characteristics of Respirators among the Iranian Users during the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

In order to provide the optimal respiratory protection for the users;particularly, the frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) while performing the aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs), it is required to conduct fit testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 90 HCWs (35 males and 55 females) of were participated in the study voluntarily. All participants were randomly allocated into six available filtering face-piece respirators (FFRs) with two kinds of styles (cup-shaped and flat-fold). Then, they underwent quantitative fit testing (QNFT) using the TSI PortaCount® respirator fit tester and qualitative fit testing (QLFT) procedures using the Moldex® Bitrex® fit test kit. The outcomes were the qualitative fit factors (QLFFs=100) and quantitative fit factors (QNFFs≥100). The overall passing rates of the QLFT and QNFT procedures were %35.17 and %29.33. One imported and domestic respirators had highest proportions of the QLFF (%48 and %45) and QNFF (%43 and 38%) and QNFF values of all. Furthermore, the mean FFs for the mentioned respirators were 120 and 103, respectively. Moreover, no significant difference was found between the whether females and males or between imported and domestic respirators by the passing rates (p>0.05). Overall, the passing rates obtained from both QNFT and QLFT procedures were low. One reason could be due to all studied respirators only came in one size or style. An optimal fit test panel should also be developed for the Iranian people to determine the appropriate face sizes and shapes in order to select the well-fitting respirator. Besides, the manufacturers are required make the respirators w