Efficacy of Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) for Source Control of Simulated Respiratory Aerosols (Dataset)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Blanchere, Francoise M. ; Derk RC ; Lindsley, William G. ; Mnatsakanova A ; Noti JD
• Description:
  Background: Powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) are a popular alternative to the use of filtering facepiece respirators by healthcare workers. Although PAPRs protect the wearer from aerosol particles, their ability to block infectious aerosol particles exhaled by the wearer from being released into the environment (called source control) is unclear. Methods: The source control performance of five PAPR loose-fitting facepieces were tested using a manikin that exhales aerosol particles. The facepieces were tested by themselves and in combination with a surgical mask or N95® respirator. Results: Four of the facepieces did not significantly reduce the release of exhaled aerosols into the environment. One facepiece with a HEPA filtration panel did provide effective source control of the exhaled aerosols. Wearing a mask or respirator under the facepiece significantly improved the source control performance. Conclusions: Most PAPR facepieces do not block aerosols exhaled by the wearer. Facepieces designed to filter exhaled particles can prevent aerosols from being released into the environment. Wearing a surgical mask or a filtering facepiece respirator under the facepiece can also provide source control, but PAPRs are not typically certified for use with masks and respirators. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Communicable Diseases Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety
• Keywords:
  Aerosol Particles Disease Transmission Infection Control PAPR Personal Protective Equipment Powered Air Purifying Respirator PPE
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHRD-1096-2024-0
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Dataset
• Genre:
  Research Dataset
• Place as Subject:
  Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070324
• Citation:
  Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Research Dataset RD-1096-2024-0, 2024 Nov; :dataset
• Contact Point Address:
  Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch (ACIB), Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV. Tel: 304.285.6224
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Efficacy of powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) as source control devices for simulated respiratory aerosols
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d846f24f769fda40da21724d25e0b1bf4e8631d72d151baff810cbe112af349833f0ef49f1578f76372f34a5f6a8a85e8f06dff104e3bff88a8384259be97d21
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208558/cdc_208558_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 157.73 KB ]