Wipe Disinfection of Reusable Elastomeric Half-Mask Respirators for Health Care Use

Details

• Personal Author:
  Casanova LM ; Erukunuakpor K ; Fernando R ; Hornbeck A ; Kraft CS ; Lane MA ; McClain C ; Nielsen KE ; Sietsema M
• Description:
  Background: During shortages, elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMRs) are an alternative to reusing N95 filtering facepiece respirators but require between-use disinfection. The objectives of this study were to (a) measure microbial reductions on EHMR surfaces under laboratory conditions by a standardized procedure using wipes impregnated with health care disinfectants and to (b) measure microbial reductions on EHMRs disinfected by volunteer health care providers. Method: We inoculated EHMR (Honeywell model RU8500) surfaces with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus atrophaeus spores, and bacteriophages MS2 and F6, and disinfected them using two wipes with hydrogen peroxide (HP), alcohols, and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). Then, we randomized 54 volunteer subjects into three groups (Group 1: two wipes with instructions, Group 2: five wipes with instructions, Group 3: no instructions or set number of wipes) and used 0.5% HP wipes without precleaning on EHMRs inoculated with Raoultella terrigena and MS2. Findings: The laboratory study demonstrated that all organisms achieved at least 4 log10 median reductions (HP>QAC/alcohol>QAC>QAC/saline). Pseudomonas was highly susceptible to HP and QAC/alcohol and F6 to all disinfectants. MS2 reduction was highest using HP and lowest using QAC/saline. Bacillus was least susceptible. The volunteer study showed a 3 to 4 log10 average reductions of bacteria and virus; Raoultella reductions were greater than MS2, with variability within and between subjects. Conclusions: HP disinfectant wipes used in laboratory and by volunteers reduce bacteria and viruses on EHMRs by 3 to 4 log10 on average. Implications for Practice: Commercially available hospital disinfectant wipes reduce bacteria and viruses on EHMRs and can fill the need for between-use disinfection. HP and combination QAC/alcohol have the greatest efficacy under our test conditions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Disinfectants Elastomers Health Personnel Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Elastomeric Disinfection Elastomeric Half-mask Respirators Health Care Workers Pathogens Personal Protective Equipment PPE Respirator Respiratory Protection
• ISSN:
  2165-0799
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Atlanta Region [OSHA] ; Georgia ; Pennsylvania ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  72
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070210
• Citation:
  Workplace Health Saf 2024 Dec; 72(12):550-558
• Contact Point Address:
  Lisa M. Casanova, PhD, Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur Street, Room 445, Atlanta, GA 30302
• Email:
  lcasanova@gsu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Workplace Health & Safety
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e3acf00517423f16d725a4291925281946015cf2963d1d05adfda7459393f4affd8f53f612e22db237b86a8c3778aa77098ff83a6eb52b0a3388e24de3b634eb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208465/cdc_208465_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 244.90 KB ]