Major ArticleAssessment of half-mask elastomeric respirator and powered air-purifying respirator reprocessing for an influenza pandemic
Section snippets
H1N1 influenza
H1N1 influenza A/PR/8/34 (ATCC VR-1469) was propagated in embryonic chicken eggs (Charles River Premium Specific Pathogen Free Eggs 10100326) using standard World Health Organization (WHO) protocols.28 Virus titers were determined by 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) assay. Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (ATCC CCL-34) were passaged and maintained using WHO-approved cell culture techniques.
Test respirators
Five commercially available HMER models and 3 commercially available PAPR models were tested for
HMER reprocessing studies
The mean viable influenza recovered from all untreated HMER surfaces was 4.76 ± 1.23 log10 TCID50 (Fig 1). A mean recovery of 5.15 ± 0.79 log10 TCID50 was achieved for nonporous surfaces and 3.24 ± 1.23 log10 TCID50 was recovered from porous surfaces (fabric straps). For cleaned-only surfaces, the mean log reduction was 4.55 ± 0.79, and only 2 of 24 surfaces demonstrated recoverable viable virus: 0.97 ± 1.33 log10 TCID50 from the fabric strap of the Scott model (Scott Safety, Monroe, NC) and
Discussion
This study demonstrates the decontamination effectiveness of the RPD reprocessing protocols defined as part of this study against H1N1 influenza in the presence of a heavy soiling agent. Twenty-four different HMER surfaces and 17 different PAPR surfaces were evaluated to account for differences in material properties and surface types. All treated surfaces demonstrated a mean log reduction of 4.54 ± 0.97 log10 TCID50, indicating this reprocessing approach may significantly reduce fomite
Conclusions
The effectiveness demonstrated by the reprocessing protocols evaluated as part of this study indicates that HMERs and PAPRs can be effectively disinfected when challenged with a pandemic influenza strain in the presence of soiling agents. Of 41 surfaces tested, only 1 demonstrated recoverable viable virus after being both cleaned and disinfected, indicating that the likelihood of these devices acting as fomites after proper use of the reprocessing protocols evaluated here is low. The data from
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Provider experiences with daily use of elastomeric half-mask respirators in health care
2024, American Journal of Infection ControlThe pragmatic use of industrial elastomeric facemasks in health care practice during the COVID-19 pandemic
2021, American Journal of Emergency MedicineCitation Excerpt :Manufacturers suggest that wipes can be utilized for interim cleaning, but should not be used as the only cleaning method [13]. In a study where EFMs were inoculated with influenza and subsequently cleaned or cleaned and disinfected, no viable virus was able to be cultured from swabs of the EFM regardless of processing method [14]. A study introducing a standard operating procedure for EFM processing demonstrated that users were able to complete processing without errors, but still required 16 min for the process [15].
Microbial contamination of powered air purifying respirators (PAPR) used by healthcare staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: an in situ microbiological study
2021, American Journal of Infection ControlCitation Excerpt :These problems are of particular significance in the current pandemic because individuals can be clinically asymptomatic but test positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2),15 putting other staff sharing the same hood at risk. Healthcare workers have expressed other infection concerns about PAPRs, including fomite dispersal during handling, aerosol deposition of respiratory and other secretions,13 and lack of confidence in the decontamination process. Current local guidelines from infection control services recommend the use of disinfection wipes for cleaning and disinfection, but do not address how the internal parts of the PAPR hoods and air supply hoses should be treated.16
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Supported by the US Food and Drug Administration Medical Countermeasures Initiative Regulatory Science Extramural Research Program (contract No. HHSF223201400158C).
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or the Food and Drug Administration.
Conflicts of interest: None to report.