Impact of three cycles of decontamination treatments on filtering facepiece respirator fit

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bergman MS ; Palmiero AJ ; Powell JB ; Shaffer RE ; Viscusi DJ ; Bergman MS ; Palmiero AJ ; Powell JB ; Shaffer RE ; Viscusi DJ
• Description:
  Decontamination and reuse of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) may be a strategy for mitigating a supply shortage during an influenza pandemic. The objective was to determine if multiple decontamination treatments affect respirator fit. Quantitative fit tests were performed on three different surgical N95 FFR models before and after multiple applications of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), moist heat incubation (MHI), or microwave-generated steam (MGS). Ten test subjects initially qualified for each FFR model by passing (fit factor (FF) . 100) a standard OSHA-accepted quantitative fit test. Fit was then evaluated over multiple consecutive donnings using an abbreviated fit test protocol: first on an untreated FFR and then on the same sample following one, two, and three decontaminations. FFRs were visually examined for physical degradation following each decontamination cycle. MGS and MHI treatments caused one FFR model to experience a slight separation of the inner foam nose cushion. MGS caused a melted headstrap in one FFR sample. UVGI did not cause any physical degradation. Fit test passing rate ranged from 90 % to 100 % and varied by respirator model/decontamination method combination and donning trial. Mean faceseal leakage (FSL) for each donning for all FFR models was < 1 % (i.e., corresponding to FF > 100). Tests were non-significant (p > 0.05) comparing the mean FSL of each of the four donning trials for all FFR model / decontamination method combinations. Three applications of the decontamination methods studied did not cause significant changes in respirator fit. Further research is needed before specific recommendations employing these methods can be made. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Health Personnel Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Filtering Facepiece Respirator Decontamination Fit Test Health-care-personnel Healthcare Workers Medical-personnel N95 N95 Fit Pandemic Influenza Respirator Reuse Respirators Respiratory-equipment Respiratory-protection Respiratory-protective-equipment Sampling-methods Treatment

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• ISSN:
  0892-6298
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory ; NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  48-59
• Volume:
  28
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20039426
• Citation:
  J Int Soc Respir Prot 2011 Jan; 28(1):48-59
• Contact Point Address:
  Ronald E. Shaffer, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
• Email:
  RShaffer@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance ; Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8e32e7587789516953a71b04f6cb5bac838d969288390a5abf13dd4efe2742a9e37896e51dfcd872cdd2ce54227763d7b7e2df068fc7cddc2c664741a02ccdcd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/192711/cdc_192711_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 97.92 KB ]