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In-House Filtration Efficiency Assessment of Vapor Hydrogen Peroxide Decontaminated Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs)

Author

Listed:
  • Khaled Al-Hadyan

    (Radiation Biology Section, Biomedical Physics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ghazi Alsbeih

    (Radiation Biology Section, Biomedical Physics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ahmad Nobah

    (Emerging Technology Unit, Biomedical Physics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia)

  • Jeffrey Lindstrom

    (Perioperative Services Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia)

  • Sawsan Falatah

    (Protocol Service Nursing Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia)

  • Nawarh Faran

    (Quality Management Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia)

  • Salem Al-Ghamdi

    (Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia)

  • Belal Moftah

    (Emerging Technology Unit, Biomedical Physics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia)

  • Rashed Alhmaid

    (General Corporate Consultancy Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

To cope with the shortage of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), healthcare institutions have been forced to reuse FFRs using different decontamination methods, including vapor hydrogen peroxide (VHP). However, most healthcare institutions still struggle with evaluating the effect of VHP on filtration efficiency (FE) of the decontaminated FFRs. We developed a low-cost in-house FE assessment using a novel 3D-printed air duct. Furthermore, we assessed the FE of seven types of FFRs. Following 10 VHP cycles, we evaluated the FE of KN95 and 3M-N95 masks. The 3M-N95 and Benehal-N95 masks showed significant lower FE (80.4–91.8%) at fine particle sizes (0.3–1 µm) compared to other FFRs (FE ≥ 98.1%, p < 0.05). Following 10 VHP cycles, the FE of KN95 masks was almost stable (FE stability > 99.1%) for all particle sizes, while 3M-N95 masks were stable only at 2 and 5 µm (FE stability > 98.0%). Statistically, FE stability of 3M-N95 masks at 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 µm was significantly lower ( p ≤ 0.006) than 2 and 5 µm. The in-house FE assessment may be used as an emergency procedure to validate the decontaminated FFRs, as well as a screening option for production control of FFRs. Following VHP cycles, both masks showed high stability at 5 µm, the size of the most suspected droplets implicated in COVID-19 transmission.

Suggested Citation

  • Khaled Al-Hadyan & Ghazi Alsbeih & Ahmad Nobah & Jeffrey Lindstrom & Sawsan Falatah & Nawarh Faran & Salem Al-Ghamdi & Belal Moftah & Rashed Alhmaid, 2021. "In-House Filtration Efficiency Assessment of Vapor Hydrogen Peroxide Decontaminated Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:7169-:d:588431
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wojciech Kierat & Weronika Augustyn & Piotr Koper & Miroslawa Pawlyta & Arkadiusz Chrusciel & Bernard Wyrwol, 2020. "The Use of UVC Irradiation to Sterilize Filtering Facepiece Masks Limiting Airborne Cross-Infection," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-14, October.
    2. José G. B. Derraik & William A. Anderson & Elizabeth A. Connelly & Yvonne C. Anderson, 2020. "Rapid Review of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 Viability, Susceptibility to Treatment, and the Disinfection and Reuse of PPE, Particularly Filtering Facepiece Respirators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-31, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elena Scaglione & Gianluigi De Falco & Giuseppe Mantova & Valeria Caturano & Alessia Stornaiuolo & Andrea D’Anna & Paola Salvatore, 2022. "An Experimental Analysis of Five Household Equipment-Based Methods for Decontamination and Reuse of Surgical Masks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; N95 masks; KN95 masks; vapor hydrogen peroxide; FFRs; decontamination; filtration efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N95 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Asia including Middle East

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