The study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, shows that the masks that are commonly used in hospitals to protect health workers from infectious pathogens such as COVID-19, the N95 model, continue to protect even after 25 cycles. decontamination using vaporized hydrogen peroxide or HPV (a common disinfectant).
Each time a mask underwent the VHP process, researchers evaluated it to determine the extent to which the wearer’s seal, fit, and filtration were affected. The scientists found no changes in respiratory integrity or filtration efficiency in the mask. After going through the VHP process 25 times, the N95 masks were found to retain a filtration efficiency of 95% or more, the researchers said.
Although the masks could have lasted even longer, the researchers stopped at 25 because a report from the Food and Drug Administration already found that at 35 cycles the rubber bands that hold them begin to degrade.
“The findings of our study extend previous findings and show that VHP is a relatively safe method of reprocessing N95 masks and could help address shortages in future epidemics,” said Christina F. Yen, co-author of the paper.
During the first months of the pandemic, health facilities faced a shortage of personal protective equipment, including N95 masks, which protect medical staff from infectious pathogens. Thanks to this information, a similar shortage could be prevented in future epidemics.
Referencia: Assessing changes to N95 respirator filtration efficiency, qualitative and quantitative fit, and seal check with repeated vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) decontamination
Christina F. Yen, MD #
Robert Seeley, MS, CSP #
Patrick Gordon, DNP, RN, CIC
Sharon B Wright, MD, MPH
Dana E Pepe, MD, MPH
Preeti Mehrotra, MD, MPH
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Published:January 05, 2022 American Journal of Infection Control, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2021.11.005
