Assessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on N95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) were recommended to protect healthcare workers when providing care to infected patients. Despite their single-use disposable nature, the need to disinfect and repurpose FFRs is paramount during this global emergency. T...

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Autores principales:	C. Carolina Ontiveros, Crystal L. Sweeney, Christopher Smith, Sean MacIsaac, Jessica L. Bennett, Sebastian Munoz, Amina K. Stoddart, Graham A. Gagnon
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/6906dc05484345578d1648135bb8cb9e
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:6906dc05484345578d1648135bb8cb9e2021-12-02T17:38:26ZAssessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on N95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity10.1038/s41598-021-91706-12045-2322https://doaj.org/article/6906dc05484345578d1648135bb8cb9e2021-06-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91706-1https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) were recommended to protect healthcare workers when providing care to infected patients. Despite their single-use disposable nature, the need to disinfect and repurpose FFRs is paramount during this global emergency. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine if UV treatment has an observable impact on respirator integrity; (2) test the impact of UV treatment on N95 FFR user fit; and (3) test the impact of UV treatment on FFR integrity. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection was assessed in maintaining N95 FFR integrity. Two models of FFRs were exposed to UV fluences ranging from 0 to 10,000 mJ cm−2 per side and subsequently tested for fit, respirator integrity, and airflow. Inspection of N95 FFRs before and after UV treatment via microscopy methods showed no observable or tactile abnormalities in the integrity of respirator material or straps. Tensile loading tests on UV-treated and untreated respirator straps also demonstrated no impact on breaking strength. Standardized fit test methods showed no compromise in user fit following UV treatment. Evaluation of particle penetration and airflow through N95 FFRs showed no impact on integrity, and average filtration efficiency did not fall below 95% for any of the respirator types or fluence levels. This work provides evidence that UV disinfection does not compromise N95 FFR integrity at UV fluences up to 10,000 mJ cm−2. UV disinfection is a viable treatment option to support healthcare professionals in their strategy against the spread of COVID-19.C. Carolina OntiverosCrystal L. SweeneyChristopher SmithSean MacIsaacJessica L. BennettSebastian MunozAmina K. StoddartGraham A. GagnonNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q C. Carolina Ontiveros Crystal L. Sweeney Christopher Smith Sean MacIsaac Jessica L. Bennett Sebastian Munoz Amina K. Stoddart Graham A. Gagnon Assessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on N95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity
description	Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) were recommended to protect healthcare workers when providing care to infected patients. Despite their single-use disposable nature, the need to disinfect and repurpose FFRs is paramount during this global emergency. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine if UV treatment has an observable impact on respirator integrity; (2) test the impact of UV treatment on N95 FFR user fit; and (3) test the impact of UV treatment on FFR integrity. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection was assessed in maintaining N95 FFR integrity. Two models of FFRs were exposed to UV fluences ranging from 0 to 10,000 mJ cm−2 per side and subsequently tested for fit, respirator integrity, and airflow. Inspection of N95 FFRs before and after UV treatment via microscopy methods showed no observable or tactile abnormalities in the integrity of respirator material or straps. Tensile loading tests on UV-treated and untreated respirator straps also demonstrated no impact on breaking strength. Standardized fit test methods showed no compromise in user fit following UV treatment. Evaluation of particle penetration and airflow through N95 FFRs showed no impact on integrity, and average filtration efficiency did not fall below 95% for any of the respirator types or fluence levels. This work provides evidence that UV disinfection does not compromise N95 FFR integrity at UV fluences up to 10,000 mJ cm−2. UV disinfection is a viable treatment option to support healthcare professionals in their strategy against the spread of COVID-19.
format	article
author	C. Carolina Ontiveros Crystal L. Sweeney Christopher Smith Sean MacIsaac Jessica L. Bennett Sebastian Munoz Amina K. Stoddart Graham A. Gagnon
author_facet	C. Carolina Ontiveros Crystal L. Sweeney Christopher Smith Sean MacIsaac Jessica L. Bennett Sebastian Munoz Amina K. Stoddart Graham A. Gagnon
author_sort	C. Carolina Ontiveros
title	Assessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on N95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity
title_short	Assessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on N95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity
title_full	Assessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on N95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity
title_fullStr	Assessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on N95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity
title_full_unstemmed	Assessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on N95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity
title_sort	assessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on n95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/6906dc05484345578d1648135bb8cb9e
work_keys_str_mv	AT ccarolinaontiveros assessingtheimpactofmultipleultravioletdisinfectioncyclesonn95filteringfacepiecerespiratorintegrity AT crystallsweeney assessingtheimpactofmultipleultravioletdisinfectioncyclesonn95filteringfacepiecerespiratorintegrity AT christophersmith assessingtheimpactofmultipleultravioletdisinfectioncyclesonn95filteringfacepiecerespiratorintegrity AT seanmacisaac assessingtheimpactofmultipleultravioletdisinfectioncyclesonn95filteringfacepiecerespiratorintegrity AT jessicalbennett assessingtheimpactofmultipleultravioletdisinfectioncyclesonn95filteringfacepiecerespiratorintegrity AT sebastianmunoz assessingtheimpactofmultipleultravioletdisinfectioncyclesonn95filteringfacepiecerespiratorintegrity AT aminakstoddart assessingtheimpactofmultipleultravioletdisinfectioncyclesonn95filteringfacepiecerespiratorintegrity AT grahamagagnon assessingtheimpactofmultipleultravioletdisinfectioncyclesonn95filteringfacepiecerespiratorintegrity
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Assessing the impact of multiple ultraviolet disinfection cycles on N95 filtering facepiece respirator integrity

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