COVID-19 global pandemic planning: Decontamination and reuse processes for N95 respirators

Douglas J Perkins; Steven Villescas; Terry H Wu; Timothy Muller; Steven Bradfute; Ivy Hurwitz; Qiuying Cheng; Hannah Wilcox; Myissa Weiss; Chris Bartlett; Jens Langsjoen; Phil Seidenberg

doi:10.1177/1535370220925768

COVID-19 global pandemic planning: Decontamination and reuse processes for N95 respirators

Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2020 Jun;245(11):933-939. doi: 10.1177/1535370220925768. Epub 2020 May 12.

Authors

Douglas J Perkins^{1

2}, Steven Villescas³, Terry H Wu⁴, Timothy Muller⁵, Steven Bradfute¹, Ivy Hurwitz¹, Qiuying Cheng¹, Hannah Wilcox⁶, Myissa Weiss⁶, Chris Bartlett⁷, Jens Langsjoen⁷, Phil Seidenberg^{2

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Global Health, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
² University of New Mexico-Kenya Programs, Kisumu and Siaya, 40100, Kenya.
³ Facilities Safety, University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
⁴ Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine, Center for Infectious Disease and Immunity, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
⁵ Office of Research, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
⁶ School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
⁷ Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
⁸ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.

Abstract

There is a critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) around the globe. This article describes the safe collection, storage, and decontamination of N95 respirators using hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV). This article is unique because it describes the HPV process in an operating room, and is therefore, a deployable method for many healthcare settings. Results presented here offer creative solutions to the current PPE shortage.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019; biological indicators; chemical indicators; filtering facepiece respirators; hydrogen peroxide vapor; personal protective equipment; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
Decontamination / methods*
Humans
Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology*
Masks / virology*
Pandemics / prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
Respiratory Protective Devices / virology*
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

Hydrogen Peroxide

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding