Addressing decontaminated respirators: Some methods appear to damage mask integrity and protective function
Richard E. Peltier, Jiayuan Wang, Brian Hollenbeck, Jennifer Lanza, Ryan M. Furtado, Jay Cyr, Richard T. Ellison, Kimiyoshi Kobayashi
Abstract
Decontamination of N95 respirators is being used by clinicians in the face of a global shortage of these devices. Some treatments for decontamination, such as some vaporized hydrogen peroxide methods or ultraviolet methods, had no impact on respiratory performance, while other treatments resulted in substantial damage to masks.
Topics & Concepts
RespiratorHuman decontaminationEconomic shortageFace masksHydrogen peroxideMedicineCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Environmental scienceChemistryDiseaseOrganic chemistryLinguisticsPathologyGovernment (linguistics)Infectious disease (medical specialty)PhilosophyInfection Control and VentilationClimate Change and Health ImpactsThermal Regulation in Medicine