Evaluation of at-home methods for N95 filtering facepiece respirator decontamination
Abstract N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) are essential for the protection of healthcare professionals and other high-risk groups against Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). In response to shortages in FFRs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration issued a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99129-8 |
| _version_ | 1818423256008359936 |
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| author | T. X. Chen A. Pinharanda N. A. Steinemann K. Yasuma-Mitobe E. Lee J. Hahn L. Wu S. Fanourakis D. S. Peterka E. M. C. Hillman |
| author_facet | T. X. Chen A. Pinharanda N. A. Steinemann K. Yasuma-Mitobe E. Lee J. Hahn L. Wu S. Fanourakis D. S. Peterka E. M. C. Hillman |
| author_sort | T. X. Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) are essential for the protection of healthcare professionals and other high-risk groups against Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). In response to shortages in FFRs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization permitting FFR decontamination and reuse. However, although industrial decontamination services are available at some large institutions, FFR decontamination is not widely accessible. To be effective, FFR decontamination must (1) inactivate the virus; (2) preserve FFR integrity, specifically fit and filtering capability; and (3) be non-toxic and safe. Here we identify and test at-home heat-based methods for FFR decontamination that meet these requirements using common household appliances. Our results identify potential protocols for simple and accessible FFR decontamination, while also highlighting unsuitable methods that may jeopardize FFR integrity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:39:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a20b8cac8dce4b688080584019bce6c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:39:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a20b8cac8dce4b688080584019bce6c52022-12-21T22:59:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-10-011111910.1038/s41598-021-99129-8Evaluation of at-home methods for N95 filtering facepiece respirator decontaminationT. X. Chen0A. Pinharanda1N. A. Steinemann2K. Yasuma-Mitobe3E. Lee4J. Hahn5L. Wu6S. Fanourakis7D. S. Peterka8E. M. C. Hillman9Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior InstituteDepartment of Biological Sciences, Columbia UniversityMortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior InstituteDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia UniversityColumbia College, Columbia UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia UniversityColumbia College, Columbia UniversityEnvironmental Health and Safety, Columbia UniversityMortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior InstituteMortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior InstituteAbstract N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) are essential for the protection of healthcare professionals and other high-risk groups against Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). In response to shortages in FFRs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization permitting FFR decontamination and reuse. However, although industrial decontamination services are available at some large institutions, FFR decontamination is not widely accessible. To be effective, FFR decontamination must (1) inactivate the virus; (2) preserve FFR integrity, specifically fit and filtering capability; and (3) be non-toxic and safe. Here we identify and test at-home heat-based methods for FFR decontamination that meet these requirements using common household appliances. Our results identify potential protocols for simple and accessible FFR decontamination, while also highlighting unsuitable methods that may jeopardize FFR integrity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99129-8 |
| spellingShingle | T. X. Chen A. Pinharanda N. A. Steinemann K. Yasuma-Mitobe E. Lee J. Hahn L. Wu S. Fanourakis D. S. Peterka E. M. C. Hillman Evaluation of at-home methods for N95 filtering facepiece respirator decontamination Scientific Reports |
| title | Evaluation of at-home methods for N95 filtering facepiece respirator decontamination |
| title_full | Evaluation of at-home methods for N95 filtering facepiece respirator decontamination |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of at-home methods for N95 filtering facepiece respirator decontamination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of at-home methods for N95 filtering facepiece respirator decontamination |
| title_short | Evaluation of at-home methods for N95 filtering facepiece respirator decontamination |
| title_sort | evaluation of at home methods for n95 filtering facepiece respirator decontamination |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99129-8 |
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