Persistence of SARS-Co-V-2 on N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators: Implications for Reuse

Details

• Personal Author:
  Choi YW ; Fisher EM ; Jordan TL ; Kuhlman MR ; Sunderman M
• Description:
  In response to the shortage of N95 filtering facepiece respirators for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance for extended use and limited reuse of N95 FFRs to conserve supply. Previously worn N95 filtering facepiece respirators can serve as a source of pathogens, which can be transferred to the wearer while doffing and donning a respirator when practicing reuse. When practicing limited filtering facepiece respirators reuse, to reduce the risk of self-contamination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends storing filtering facepiece respirators for five days between uses to allow for the decay of viable pathogens including SARS-CoV-2. This study assesses the persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 strain USA-WA1/2020 on N95 filtering facepiece respirators under controlled storage conditions for up to five days to inform the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Coupons excised from six N95 filtering facepiece respirator models and glass slide coverslips were inoculated with the virus in a defined culture medium and in human saliva and stored at 20 degree C and 20%, 45%, and 75% relative humidity. Statistically significant differences in SARS-CoV-2 half-lives were measured among the tested humidity levels with half-lives decreasing from an average of approximately 30 hours at 20% relative humidity to approximately 2 hours at 75% relative humidity. Significant differences in virus half-lives were also observed between the culture medium and saliva suspension media at 20% and 45% relative humidity with half lives up to 2.9 times greater when the virus was suspended in cell culture medium. The five-day storage strategy, assessed in this study, resulted in a minimum of 93.4% reduction in viable virus for the most challenging condition (20% relative humidity, cell culture medium) and exceeding 99% reduction in virus at all other conditions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cells, Cultured Communicable Diseases Health Personnel Humidity Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Viral Diseases
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: COVID-19 Cell Cultures Contamination COVID-19 Face Masks Filters Health Care Personnel Health Care Workers Medical Personnel N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Pathogens Respiratory Protection Viral Diseases

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  NPPTL - National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  18
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063716
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2021 Dec; 18(12):570-578
• Contact Point Address:
  Edward M. Fisher, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pittsburgh, PA
• Email:
  efisher@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:eab72acd435ed8f194bdda5f2634aab9fd48f6f53d2c68eaa710734a8f1550320125e0ca422814c943a2a3b608879f1d2c04c9f4ee423f4b98ef98cf2401c303
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222277/cdc_222277_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.44 MB ]