Qualitative Fit Testing of Medium - Size N95/FFP2 Respirators on Iranian Health Care Workers

Abstract

Background: How tight fitting respirators fit on the users face is an important factor in their effectiveness. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the qualitative fitting of N95/FFP2 respirators among Health Care Workers (HCWs) in six educational hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Methods: This cross - sectional study was carried out on 284 HCWs. They were using medium size respirators of flat - fold FFP2 (3M - model; 8222 and SPC - model; 8226) and cup - shaped N95 respirators (3M - model; 8210). At first, a medical evaluation questionnaire was completed by all employees. Qualitative fit testing was performed by JSP kit (Oxford, England). Critical face anthropometric dimensions in fitting of respirators were measured using sliding caliper. All data analysis was performed with SPSS version 21 and STATA 13. Results: In this study, only 10.6% of the participants passed the qualitative fit test. Cup - shaped respirators had better fitting compared to flat - fold respirators. A total of 10.2% of the individuals who were using N95 respirators were not medically competent to wear a respirator. Most individuals who passed the fit test were placed in the medium cell (10%) of fit testing NIOSH Bivariate panel. Conclusions: Studied medium size of N95/FFP2 respirators could not provide proper fitting on the face of Iranian HCWs. More studies with different sizes and models of available respirators in the Iran market is required to find the most appropriate respirators to provide proper fit on Iranian HCWs.