Decontamination of SARS-CoV-2 contaminated N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) with moist heat generated by a multicooker.
Lett Appl Microbiol
; 72(4): 366-374, 2021 Apr.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-991631
ABSTRACT
Decontamination of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) is a crisis capacity strategy allowed when there are known shortages of FFRs. The application of moist heat is one decontamination method that has shown promise and is the approach approved in the Steris Steam Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This effort examines the use of multicookers to apply moist heat, as they are available in retail stores and more affordable than methods requiring more sophisticated equipment. Four of five multicooker models examined met the acceptance criteria for the test and one model was selected for inactivation testing. Tests were performed on four different FFR models with SARS-CoV-2 suspended in culture media, simulated saliva or simulated lung fluid. Moist heat treatment reduced recoverable titres of SARS-CoV-2 virus to levels below the limit of detection in all tests. Furthermore, these four FFR models showed no loss in collection efficiency, inhalation resistance or visual damage after up to 10 decontamination cycles. Two (2) FFR models showed a slight change in strap elasticity (<9%). These data show that moist heat treatment using a multicooker is a viable option for FFR decontamination in a crisis capacity strategy.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Decontamination
/
Equipment Reuse
/
N95 Respirators
/
COVID-19
/
Hot Temperature
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Lett Appl Microbiol
Journal subject:
Microbiology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Lam.13443
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