Purpose Of Review: Prior outbreaks of respiratory viruses have demonstrated the need for adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, particularly filtering facepiece respirators (FFR). Due to shortfalls of PPE during the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, the need for FFR decontamination and reuse (FFR-DR) strategies is paramount. This paper aims to discuss primary decontamination strategies, with an in-depth analysis of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), arriving at the decontamination strategy utilized at the Nebraska Medical Center (NMC).
Methods: Review of the primary literature in regard to FFR-DR as well as a synopsis of the current protocol for FFR-DR at NMC.
Recent Findings: UVGI demonstrates effective decontamination of multiple pathogens-including several human respiratory viruses-while maintaining mask integrity and filtering capacity. UVGI was associated with degradation of strap integrity at higher doses than that utilized for decontamination or with reuse beyond 20 times.
Summary: UVGI effectively decontaminates N95 FFRs without significant reduction to fit or strap integrity and can be employed as a strategy for FFR-DR in times of emergency.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8023544 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40506-021-00247-8 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Atmospheric pressure plasma jet for respiratory face masks decontamination and re-use: Considerations on microbiological efficacy, material impact and product lifecycle.
PLoS One
January 2025
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy.
Disposable filtering face piece respirators (FFRs) are not approved for reuse as standard of care. However, lessons learnt from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, FFRs decontamination and reuse may be needed as crisis capacity strategy to ensure availability in medical facilities. We studied a decontamination methodology based on atmospheric pressure plasma technology, which allows for rapid, contact-free decontamination without utilisation of harmful chemicals, and suitable to access small pores and microscopic filters openings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of membrane technology in palm oil mill effluent (POME) decontamination: Current trends and future prospects.
J Environ Manage
January 2025
Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia; Research Center for Biosciences and Biotechnology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia.
This article reviews the role of membrane systems in treating palm oil mill effluent (POME), a waste generated by the palm industry. The review focuses on various membrane systems such as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO), highlighting their effectiveness in removing pollutants and recovering water. Special attention is given to hybrid systems integrating membrane bioreactors (MBRs) and other advanced processes to enhance fouling control, improve water quality, and promote sustainability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvestigation of the efficiency of different reprocessing methods on disposable laryngeal masks contaminated with HBV DNA.
GMS Hyg Infect Control
December 2024
Uzun Mehmet Chest and Work Diseases Hospital, Medical Microbiology Dept, Zonguldak, Turkey.
Background: The use of laryngeal masks (LM) has increased widely today, both in anesthesia and in emergency cases. LM are available as reusable and disposable. Although reuse of disposable LM is not recommended, they are reused again after decontamination with different methods in anesthesia units in some countries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel insights into released hydrochar particle derived from typical high nitrogen waste biomass: Special properties, microstructure and formation mechanism.
Waste Manag
December 2024
Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in Downstream of Yangtze Plain/Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation (Jiangsu), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) transforms waste biomass, particularly high nitrogen feedstocks like kitchen garbage and blue-green algae, into valuable resources, but the characteristics of small hydrochar particles remain underexplored.
- Hydrochar particles show unique properties such as poor porosity, moderate pH, negative charge, and high hydrophobicity, which differ from the original hydrochar and secondary char derived from simpler biomasses.
- The study identifies complex formation mechanisms through various chemical reactions in the hydrochar microparticles, highlighting their potential as soil fertilizers and decontaminants while emphasizing that effectiveness is influenced by HTC temperature and type of biomass used.
Development and application of decontamination methods for the re-use of laboratory grade plastic pipette tips.
PLoS One
December 2024
Division of Biology, Chemistry, and Materials Science, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, United States of America.
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a need for methods to decontaminate and reuse personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical plastics became a priority. In this investigation we aimed to develop a contamination evaluation protocol for laboratory pipette tips, after decontamination. Decontamination methods tested in this study included cleaning with a common laboratory detergent (2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!