Waste Not, Want Not: Re-Usability of N95 Masks
Naveen Nathan
Abstract
As the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illnesses continues to escalate amidst a substandard supply of protective equipment for health care providers, the question of extended use or reuse of N95 masks has emerged. As well, the relative effectiveness of the N95 compared to other mask types has been entertained. A recent article by Abd-Elsayed and Karri1 aim to put these topics into focus. In addition, personal correspondence between Drs Richard Prielipp (Department of Anesthesiology, University of Minnesota) and Peter Tsai (inventor of the N95 mask) offers perspectives on managing the reuse of this central element of protective equipment.
Topics & Concepts
MedicinePersonal protective equipmentUsabilityCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)ReuseSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakAnesthesiologyMedical emergencyInfectious disease (medical specialty)VirologyDiseaseHuman–computer interactionPathologyEngineeringComputer scienceWaste managementOutbreakInfection Control and VentilationCOVID-19 and healthcare impactsClimate Change and Health Impacts