Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a high demand on personal protective equipment, including disposable N95 masks. Given the need for mask reuse, we tested the feasibility of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP), ultraviolet light (UV), and ethanol decontamination strategies on N95 mask integrity and the ability to remove the infectious potential of SARS-CoV-2. Disposable N95 masks, including medical grade (1860, 1870+) and industrial grade (8511) masks, were treated by VHP, UV, and ethanol decontamination. Mask degradation was tested using a quantitative respirator fit testing. Pooled clinical samples of SARS-CoV-2 were applied to mask samples, treated, and then either sent immediately for real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or incubated with Vero E6 cells to assess for virucidal effect. Both ethanol and UV decontamination showed functional degradation to different degrees while VHP treatment showed no significant change after two treatments. We also report a single SARS-CoV-2 virucidal experiment using Vero E6 cell infection in which only ethanol treatment eliminated detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA. We hope our data will guide further research for evidenced-based decisions for disposable N95 mask reuse and help protect caregivers from SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a high demand on personal protective equipment, including disposable N95 masks
Prior studies have investigated how decontamination procedures, including ethanol, ultraviolet light (UV), and vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) alter N95 mask integrity,[2,3,4,5,6,7,8] but it is unclear how effective these sterilization procedures are at destroying SARS-CoV-2
We first investigated if decontamination strategies, such as 70% ethanol, UV, or VHP, affected N95 mask integrity
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a high demand on personal protective equipment, including disposable N95 masks. Given the need for mask reuse, we tested the feasibility of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP), ultraviolet light (UV), and ethanol decontamination strategies on N95 mask integrity and the ability to remove the infectious potential of SARS-CoV-2. Due to more limited supply, more stringent production requirements and requirement for critical lifesaving aerosol generating procedures N95 masks have become a priority in our health system This team was tasked with determining feasibility of mask decontamination. Prior studies have investigated how decontamination procedures, including ethanol, ultraviolet light (UV), and vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) alter N95 mask integrity,[2,3,4,5,6,7,8] but it is unclear how effective these sterilization procedures are at destroying SARS-CoV-2. We investigate the effect of different decontamination methods on disposable N95 mask integrity and on eliminating the infectious potential of SARS-CoV-2
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