AI Article Synopsis
- The global healthcare systems are currently facing a shortage of primary protective equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Common sterilization techniques do not effectively maintain the integrity of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs).
- The text suggests using gamma irradiation as a validated method for safely disinfecting FFRs in large quantities.
Article Abstract
Re-processing of primary protective equipment is the need of the hour with healthcare systems all over the world strained due to the shortage precipitated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The common methods of re-sterilization do not hold well for filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) as they affect their structure and function. We propose the validation and eventual use of gamma irradiation, an already existing method of re-sterilization, to disinfect FFRs in bulk.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7353930 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_191_20 | DOI Listing |
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Article Synopsis
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- Researchers assessed collected FFRs for their physical condition and filtration levels, finding that while many had secure features, a significant number had dirt, making only a small fraction eligible for sterilization.
- Following sterilization, none of the FFRs maintained the required 94% filtration efficiency, indicating that prolonged reuse severely impacted their effectiveness.
Integrity and filtration efficiency of decontaminated N95/PFF2 masks to protect health care professionals against COVID-19: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
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Background: To evaluate the evidence related to maintaining the integrity and filtration efficiency of N95 and/or PFF2 respirators after decontamination in health care professionals' protection against COVID-19.
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