Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33526158›Full record

ArticleInfection control and hospital epidemiology2022

Rationale and process for N95 respirator sanitation and reuse in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Gregory J Golladay, Kevin A Leslie, Wilhelm A Zuelzer, Anthony D Cassano, Joshua J Plauny, Frank E Daniels, Gonzalo Bearman, Stephen L Kates

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review of the Effect of Continuous Use and Limited Reuse of N95 Respirators on Respirator Fit.Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection · 2022
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Gregory J GolladayDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0956-7559
Kevin A LeslieVCU Ventures, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Wilhelm A ZuelzerDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Anthony D CassanoDivision of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Joshua J PlaunySupply Chain, VCU Health, Richmond, Virginia.
Frank E DanielsHigh-Level Disinfection Unit, VCU Health System, Richmond, Virginia.
Gonzalo BearmanDivision of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
Stephen L KatesDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe novel severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and is notable for being highly contagious and potentially lethal; and SARS-CoV-2 is mainly spread by droplet transmission. The US healthcare system's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenged by a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), especially N95 respirators. Restricted use, reuse, and sanitation of PPE have been widely adopted to provide protection for frontline healthcare workers caring for often critically ill and highly contagious patients. Here, we describe our validated process for N95 respirator sanitation.

designProcess development, validation, and implementation.

settingLevel 1, urban, academic, medical center.

methodsA multidisciplinary team developed a novel evidence-based process for N95 respirator reprocessing and sanitation using ultraviolet (UV) light. Dose measurement, structural integrity, moisture content, particle filtration, fit testing, and environmental testing were performed for both quality control and validation of the process.

resultsThe process achieved UV light dosing for sanitation while maintaining the functional and structural integrity of the N95 respirators, with a daily potential throughput capacity of ∼12,000 masks. This process has supported our health system to provide respiratory PPE to all frontline team members.

conclusionsThis novel method of N95 respirator sanitation can safely enable reuse of the N95 respirators essential for healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19. Our high-throughput process can extend local supplies of this critical PPE until the national supply is replenished.

Indexed as

COVID-19PandemicsDecontaminationEquipment ReuseHumansMasksN95 RespiratorsSanitationSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID33526158
PMCPMC8712955

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.