SynthesisThe Journal of hospital infection2020
Microwave- and heat-based decontamination of N95 filtering facepiece respirators: a systematic review.
Synthesis in The Journal of hospital infection, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Mask decontamination methods (model N95) for respiratory protection: a rapid review.Systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Extended use or reuse of single-use surgical masks and filtering face-piece respirators during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A rapid systematic review.Infection control and hospital epidemiology · 2021Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of disinfectants for decontamination of N95 and SN95 filtering facepiece respirators: a systematic review.The Journal of hospital infection · 2020Pooled it
- Decontamination interventions for the reuse of surgical mask personal protective equipment: a systematic review.The Journal of hospital infection · 2020Pooled it
- Impact of ultraviolet radiation on filtering facepiece respirators and SARS-CoV-2 detection.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Global face mask pollution: threats to the environment and wildlife, and potential solutions.The Science of the total environment · 2023Review
- Evaluating the effects of air disinfectants in decontamination of COVID-19 aerosols.Health science reports · 2023Article
- Generation and consequence of nano/microplastics from medical waste and household plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic.Chemosphere · 2023Review
- Decontamination and reuse of personal protective masks and respirators in healthcare: Human-centered investigation and implementation considerations.Human factors in healthcare · 2021Article
- Heat-Treated Virus Inactivation Rate Depends Strongly on Treatment Procedure: Illustration with SARS-CoV-2.Applied and environmental microbiology · 2021Article
- Enhanced Medical and Community Face Masks with Antimicrobial Properties: A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Review
- Research on Dry Microwave Heating Infectious Aerosols or Droplets on Respirators.IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques · 2021Article
- Evaluating the relationship between citation set size, team size and screening methods used in systematic reviews: a cross-sectional study.BMC medical research methodology · 2021Article
- Heat-treated virus inactivation rate depends strongly on treatment procedure: illustration with SARS-CoV-2.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2021Article
- In-House Filtration Efficiency Assessment of Vapor Hydrogen Peroxide Decontaminated Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs).International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Increased plastic pollution due to COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and recommendations.Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) · 2021Review
- Rapid review methods more challenging during COVID-19: commentary with a focus on 8 knowledge synthesis steps.Journal of clinical epidemiology · 2020Review
- A brief guidance for cardiologists for resource containment measures to mitigate anticipated shortages of n-95 filtering facepiece respirators during COVID-19 pandemic.Annals of cardiac anaesthesiaArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn pandemics such as COVID-19, shortages of personal protective equipment are common. One solution may be to decontaminate equipment such as facemasks for reuse.
aimTo collect and synthesize existing information on decontamination of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) using microwave and heat-based treatments, with special attention to impacts on mask function (aerosol penetration, airflow resistance), fit, and physical traits.
methodsA systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42020177036) of literature available from Medline, Embase, Global Health, and other sources was conducted. Records were screened independently by two reviewers, and data was extracted from studies that reported on effects of microwave- or heat-based decontamination on N95 FFR performance, fit, physical traits, and/or reductions in microbial load.
findingsThirteen studies were included that used dry/moist microwave irradiation, heat, or autoclaving. All treatment types reduced pathogen load by a log
conclusionsMicrowave irradiation and heat may be safe and effective viral decontamination options for N95 FFR reuse during critical shortages. The evidence does not support autoclaving or high-heat (>90°C) approaches. Physical degradation may be an issue for certain mask models, and more real-world evidence on fit is needed.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.