scholarly journals Decontamination of N95 masks for re-use employing 7 widely available sterilization methods

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anand Kumar ◽  
Samantha B. Kasloff ◽  
Anders Leung ◽  
Todd Cutts ◽  
James E. Strong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Ethylene Oxide ◽  
Woven Fabric ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Moist Heat ◽  
Gas Plasma ◽  
Fit Testing ◽  
Ultraviolet C ◽  
Hospital Wards

The response to the COVID-19 epidemic is generating severe shortages of personal protective equipment around the world. In particular, the supply of N95 respirator masks has become severely depleted, with supplies having to be rationed and health care workers having to use masks for prolonged periods in many countries. We sought to test the ability of 7 different decontamination methods: autoclave treatment, ethylene oxide gassing (ETO), low temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (LT-HPGP) treatment, vaporous hydrogen peroxide (VHP) exposure, peracetic acid dry fogging (PAF), ultraviolet C irradiation (UVCI) and moist heat (MH) treatment to decontaminate a variety of different N95 masks following experimental contamination with SARS-CoV-2 or vesicular stomatitis virus as a surrogate. In addition, we sought to determine whether masks would tolerate repeated cycles of decontamination while maintaining structural and functional integrity. All methods except for UVCI were effective in total elimination of viable virus from treated masks. We found that all respirator masks tolerated at least one cycle of all treatment modalities without structural or functional deterioration as assessed by fit testing; filtration efficiency testing results were mostly similar except that a single cycle of LT-HPGP was associated with failures in 3 of 6 masks assessed. VHP, PAF, UVCI, and MH were associated with preserved mask integrity to a minimum of 10 cycles by both fit and filtration testing. A similar result was shown with ethylene oxide gassing to the maximum 3 cycles tested. Pleated, layered non-woven fabric N95 masks retained integrity in fit testing for at least 10 cycles of autoclaving but the molded N95 masks failed after 1 cycle; filtration testing however was intact to 5 cycles for all masks. The successful application of autoclaving for layered, pleated masks may be of particular use to institutions globally due to the virtually universal accessibility of autoclaves in health care settings. Given the ability to modify widely available heating cabinets on hospital wards in well-resourced settings, the application of moist heat may allow local processing of N95 masks.

scholarly journals N95 Mask Decontamination using Standard Hospital Sterilization Technologies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anand Kumar ◽  
Samantha B. Kasloff ◽  
Anders Leung ◽  
Todd Cutts ◽  
James E. Strong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Peracetic Acid ◽  
Functional Integrity ◽  
Gas Plasma ◽  
Universal Accessibility ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis ◽  
Layered Fabric ◽  
Functional Deterioration

AbstractThe response to the COVID-19 epidemic is generating severe shortages of personal protective equipment around the world. In particular, the supply of N95 respirator masks has become severely depleted, with supplies having to be rationed and health care workers having to use masks for prolonged periods in many countries. We sought to test the ability of 5 different decontamination methods: autoclave treatment, ethylene oxide gassing, low temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma treatment, vaporous hydrogen peroxide exposure and peracetic acid dry fogging to decontaminate a variety of different N95 masks of experimental contamination with SARS-CoV-2 or Vesicular stomatitis virus as a surrogate. In addition, we sought to determine whether masks would tolerate repeated cycles of decontamination while maintaining structural and functional integrity. We found that one cycle of treatment with all modalities was effective in decontamination and was associated with no structural or functional deterioration. Vaporous hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid dry fogging and autoclave treatments were associated with no loss of structural or functional integrity to a minimum of 10 cycles for the mask models tested. The molded N95 masks however tolerated only 1 cycle of autoclaving. The successful application of autoclaving for layered fabric, pleated masks may be of particular use to institutions globally due to the virtually universal accessibility of autoclaves in health care settings.

Does blood on “dirty” instruments interfere with the effectiveness of sterilization technologies?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
William A. Rutala ◽  
Maria F. Gergen ◽  
David J. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Ethylene Oxide ◽  
Steam Sterilization ◽  
Gas Plasma ◽  
Margin Of Safety

Abstract We evaluated the robustness of sterilization technologies when spores and bacteria were placed on “dirty” instruments and overlaid with blood. The results illustrate that steam sterilization is the most effective sterilization technology with the largest margin of safety, followed by ethylene oxide and hydrogen peroxide gas plasma.

A Comparative Study of Ethylene Oxide Gas, Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma, and Low-Temperature Steam Formaldehyde Sterilization

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 486-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiji Kanemitsu ◽  
Takayuki Imasaka ◽  
Shiho Ishikawa ◽  
Hiroyuki Kunishima ◽  
Hideo Harigae ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Low Temperature ◽  
Ethylene Oxide ◽  
Bacillus Stearothermophilus ◽  
Biological Indicator ◽  
Environmental Concerns ◽  
Gas Plasma ◽  
Complex Shapes ◽  
Multiple Trials ◽  
Ethylene Oxide Gas

AbstractObjective:To compare the efficacies of ethylene oxide gas (EOG), hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (PLASMA), and low-temperature steam formaldehyde (LTSF) sterilization methods.Methods:The efficacies of EOG, PLASMA, and LTSF sterilization were tested using metal and plastic plates, common medical instruments, and three process challenge devices with narrow lumens. All items were contaminated with Bacillus stearothermophilus spores or used a standard biological indicator.Results:EOG and LTSF demonstrated effective killing of B. stearothermophilus spores, with or without serum, on plates, on instruments, and in process challenge devices. PLASMA failed to adequately sterilize materials on multiple trials in several experiments, including two of three plates, two of three instruments, and all process challenge devices.Conclusions:Our results suggest that PLASMA sterilization may be unsuccessful under certain conditions, particularly when used for items with complex shapes and narrow lumens. Alternatively, LTSF sterilization demonstrates excellent efficacy and is comparable to EOG sterilization. LTSF could potentially act as a substitute if EOG becomes unavailable due to environmental concerns.

Effects of sterilization with hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, ethylene oxide, and steam on bioadhesive properties of nylon and polyethylene lines used for stabilization of canine stifle joints

2012 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 1665-1669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthieu Gatineau ◽  
Alexander O El-Warrak ◽  
Christian Bolliger ◽  
Michael Mourez ◽  
Frederic Berthiaume
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Ethylene Oxide ◽  
Gas Plasma ◽  
Canine Stifle

scholarly journals Awareness of parents towards Teething

1970 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Bhavneet
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Child Health ◽  
General Health ◽  
Deciduous Tooth ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Child Health Care ◽  
Statistical Software ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Objective: The relationship of the first deciduous tooth eruption and the general health of an infant has always been a subject of curiosity. The enigma of teething although historical, continues to pervade contemporary child health care due to many unexplained teething myths. The treatment modalities used in teething have been diverse. The objective of this study was to evaluate the awareness, beliefs and knowledge of parents towards teething symptoms. Materials and method: Hundred parents were randomly selected from two kindergarten schools and were interviewed according to a structured questionnaire. Collected data was analyzed by a statistical software known as SPSS. Results: Results revealed that though parents knew about teething but there was lack of awareness regarding diverse treatment modalities and the teething myths and realities. Conclusions: More educative programs should be initiated to make parents aware of teething myths and realities. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v11i1.9822 BJMS 2012; 11(1): 40-43

scholarly journals Perception of Iranian Patients with Cancer, Their Relatives, and Health Care Professionals Towards Length of Life and Quality of Life: A Local Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Negin Nourbakhsh ◽  
Bahareh Tahani ◽  
Azadeh Moghaddas
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Survival Time ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Treatment Choices ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Length Of Life

Background: Recently, therapeutic decision-making in oncology is changed to a big challenge for both patients and involved oncologists due to an increase in available treatment modalities with a variety of benefits or adverse effects. Objectives: The current study aimed at comparing the perception of treatment priorities regarding lengthening of survival time or maintenance of the quality of life (QoL) among patients with cancer by health care professionals (HCPs). Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with cancer, their relatives, and healthcare professionals in the referral cancer center of Omid affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. To identify treatment choices, priority, and related variables influencing their opinions, all participants were interviewed using a standard and valid questionnaire in Persian. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 20, and the P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 299 participants, including 100 patients, 109 relatives, and 90 HCPs (74.2% nurses, 20.2% physicians, 5.6% others) participated in the study. The priority of treatment between survival time (66.1% for relatives vs. 47.9% for patients and 21.3% for HCP) and QoL (33.9% vs.52.1% and 78.7%) was significantly different between the three groups (P < 0.001). Most of the HCPs, patients, and their relatives believed that the physician is the only person who should accept the responsibility of treatment choices and process (98.9% vs. 100% and 98%, respectively; P = 0.002). Conclusions: Among the Iranian population, both the length of life and QoL were valuable; however, it was observed that patients with cancer and HCPs preferred mostly to expand the QoL, while the length of life was more valuable for relatives. Also, all patients, their relatives, and HCPs preferred to choose the physicians as the decision-makers. The results of the study can be helpful in choosing treatment regimens and designing clinical trials.

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