Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Extended use or reuse of single-use surgical masks and filtering face-piece respirators during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A rapid systematic review.
Toomey, Elaine C; Conway, Yvonne; Burton, Chris; Smith, Simon; Smalle, Michael; Chan, Xin-Hui S; Adisesh, Anil; Tanveer, Sarah; Ross, Lawrence; Thomson, Iain; Devane, Declan; Greenhalgh, Trish.
  • Toomey EC; School of Allied Health, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
  • Conway Y; Evidence Synthesis Ireland, School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
  • Burton C; Academic Unit of Primary Medical Care, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
  • Smith S; Canadian Standards Biological Aerosols Working Group, Canada.
  • Smalle M; James Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
  • Chan XS; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  • Adisesh A; Division of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto and St Michael's Hospital, Unity Health, Toronto, Canada.
  • Tanveer S; Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
  • Ross L; Department of Infectious Disease, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States.
  • Thomson I; Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Devane D; Evidence Synthesis Ireland, School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
  • Greenhalgh T; Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol ; 42(1): 75-83, 2021 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2096434
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Shortages of personal protective equipment during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have led to the extended use or reuse of single-use respirators and surgical masks by frontline healthcare workers. The evidence base underpinning such practices warrants examination.

OBJECTIVES:

To synthesize current guidance and systematic review evidence on extended use, reuse, or reprocessing of single-use surgical masks or filtering face-piece respirators. DATA SOURCES We used the World Health Organization, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Public Health England websites to identify guidance. We used Medline, PubMed, Epistemonikos, Cochrane Database, and preprint servers for systematic reviews.

METHODS:

Two reviewers conducted screening and data extraction. The quality of included systematic reviews was appraised using AMSTAR-2. Findings were narratively synthesized.

RESULTS:

In total, 6 guidance documents were identified. Levels of detail and consistency across documents varied. They included 4 high-quality systematic reviews 3 focused on reprocessing (decontamination) of N95 respirators and 1 focused on reprocessing of surgical masks. Vaporized hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation were highlighted as the most promising reprocessing methods, but evidence on the relative efficacy and safety of different methods was limited. We found no well-established methods for reprocessing respirators at scale.

CONCLUSIONS:

Evidence on the impact of extended use and reuse of surgical masks and respirators is limited, and gaps and inconsistencies exist in current guidance. Where extended use or reuse is being practiced, healthcare organizations should ensure that policies and systems are in place to ensure these practices are carried out safely and in line with available guidance.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Infection Control / Equipment Reuse / N95 Respirators / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 / Masks Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Reviews / Systematic review/Meta Analysis Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Journal subject: Communicable Diseases / Nursing / Epidemiology / Hospitals Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ice.2020.1243

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Infection Control / Equipment Reuse / N95 Respirators / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 / Masks Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Reviews / Systematic review/Meta Analysis Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Journal subject: Communicable Diseases / Nursing / Epidemiology / Hospitals Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ice.2020.1243