Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The abrupt emergence of COVID-19 cases has raised demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). We compared fit factors of various masks and respirators available in healthcare settings in Thailand to assess suitability of sealed surgical mask or N95 respirator as an alternative to a surgical N95 respirator. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 quantitative respirator fit tests were performed among 3 masks and 5 respirators using PortaCount 8048, TSI Incorporated, Minnesota, USA, following Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protocols. RESULTS: Fit factors of two unsealed surgical masks were around 4 – 5. When they were sealed with 3M micropore tape, the fit factors increased to 33 – 38, which were below the OSHA criterion of 100. Fit factors of four unsealed masks and respirators were between 11 - 95, but after sealing, the fit factors increased to 199 and more. Two respirators passed the criterion of 100 without sealing. CONCLUSIONS: Sealing of both masks and respirators improved fit factors substantively. Therefore, we recommend “always seal” masks and respirators particularly in the situation where an individual fit testing is not mandatorily required. To better protect healthcare workers caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, it is advised that every healthcare worker should be trained on wearing an N95 respirator and go through a respirator fit test as part of respiratory protection program.
Highlights
Our study investigated the fit factor by QNFT PortaCount to find acceptable alternative facemasks or respirators when caring for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 in order to protect healthcare workers from work-related COVID-19 disease in Thailand
A total of 31 quantitative fit tests were performed by two testers, male and female, on various types of masks and respirators using PortaCount Model 8048, TSI Incorporated, Minnesota, USA, following Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) modified ambient aerosol condensation nuclei counter (CNC) quantitative fit testing protocols.[7]
One type of standard supplied N95 respirator performed well even when not sealed while another type of online supplied N95 mask did not pass the tests even when it was sealed with one inch micropore. It appeared that sealing a surgical mask with one-inch micropore improved performance by seven to eight times, from 4 to 33 by tester 1 and from 5 to 38 by tester 2
Summary
The abrupt emergence of COVID-19 cases has raised demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). RESULTS: Fit factors of two unsealed surgical masks were around 4 – 5. When they were sealed with 3M micropore tape, the fit factors increased to 33 – 38, which were below the OSHA criterion of 100. Fit factors of four unsealed masks and respirators were between 11 - 95, but after sealing, the fit factors increased to 199 and more. CONCLUSIONS: Sealing of both masks and respirators improved fit factors substantively. To better protect healthcare workers caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, it is advised that every healthcare worker should be trained on wearing an N95 respirator and go through a respirator fit test as part of respiratory protection program
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