Evaluation of N95 respirator ultraviolet decontamination and clinical reuse with quantitative fit testing

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2022 Sep;43(9):1272-1274. doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.187. Epub 2021 May 3.

Abstract

The supply of N95 respirators has been severely strained by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We used quantitative fit-testing to evaluate 16 participants and 45 respirators through up to 4 rounds of ultraviolet decontamination and clinical reuse. The mean fit-test failure rate was 29.7%, and the probability of failure increased through N95 reuse.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Decontamination
  • Equipment Reuse
  • Humans
  • N95 Respirators*
  • SARS-CoV-2