Effectiveness of a low-cost UVGI chamber for decontaminating filtering facepiece respirators to extend reuse

Singh, TDuba, TMuleba, LMatuka, ODGlaser, DanielRatshikhopha, EKirstena, ZVan Reenen, Tobias HMasuku, ZSingo, D2023-02-262023-02-262022-12Singh, T., Duba, T., Muleba, L., Matuka, O., Glaser, D., Ratshikhopha, E., Kirstena, Z. & Van Reenen, T.H. et al. 2022. Effectiveness of a low-cost UVGI chamber for decontaminating filtering facepiece respirators to extend reuse. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 20. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/126091545-96241545-9632https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2022.2137299http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12609In emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, the reuse or reprocessing of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) may be required to mitigate exposure risk. Research gap: Only a few studies evaluated decontamination effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 that are practical for low-resource settings. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a relatively inexpensive ultraviolet germicidal irradiation chamber to decontaminate FFRs contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. A custom-designed UVGI chamber was constructed to determine the ability to decontaminate seven FFR models including N95s, KN95, and FFP2s inoculated with SARS-CoV-2. Vflex was excluded due to design folds/pleats and UVGI shadowing inside the chamber. Structural and functional integrity tolerated by each FFR model on repeated decontamination cycles was assessed. Twenty-seven participants were fit-tested over 30 cycles for each model and passed if the fit factor was =100. Of the FFR models included for testing, only the KN95 model failed filtration. The 3M™ 3M 1860 and Halyard™ duckbill 46727 (formerly Kimberly Clark) models performed better on fit testing than other models for both pre-and-post decontaminations. Fewer participants (0.3 and 0.7%, respectively) passed fit testing for Makrite 9500 N95 and Greenline 5200 FFP2 and only two for the KN95 model post decontamination. Fit testing appeared to be more affected by donning & doffing, as some passed with adjustment and repeat fit testing. A = 3 log reduction of SARS-CoV-2 was achieved for worn-in FFRs namely Greenline 5200 FFP2. Conclusion: The study showed that not all FFRs tested could withstand 30 cycles of UVGI decontamination without diminishing filtration efficiency or facial fit. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 log reduction varied across the FFRs, implying that the decontamination efficacy largely depends on the decontamination protocol and selection of FFRs. We demonstrated the effectiveness of a low-cost and scalable decontamination method for SARS-CoV-2 and the effect on fit testing using people instead of manikins. It is recognized that extensive experimental evidence for the reuse of decontaminated FFRs is lacking, and thus this study would be relevant and of interest in crisis-capacity settings, particularly in low-resource facilities.FulltextenAirborne infection controlSARS-CoV-2Low-cost UVGI chamberRespirator reprocessingUVGI effectivenessViral filtration efficiencyViral inactivation efficacyEffectiveness of a low-cost UVGI chamber for decontaminating filtering facepiece respirators to extend reuseArticleSingh, T., Duba, T., Muleba, L., Matuka, O., Glaser, D., Ratshikhopha, E., ... Singo, D. (2022). Effectiveness of a low-cost UVGI chamber for decontaminating filtering facepiece respirators to extend reuse. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 20, http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12609Singh, T, T Duba, L Muleba, OD Matuka, Daniel Glaser, E Ratshikhopha, Z Kirstena, Tobias H Van Reenen, Z Masuku, and D Singo "Effectiveness of a low-cost UVGI chamber for decontaminating filtering facepiece respirators to extend reuse." Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 20 (2022) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12609Singh T, Duba T, Muleba L, Matuka O, Glaser D, Ratshikhopha E, et al. Effectiveness of a low-cost UVGI chamber for decontaminating filtering facepiece respirators to extend reuse. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 20. 2022; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12609.TY - Article AU - Singh, T AU - Duba, T AU - Muleba, L AU - Matuka, OD AU - Glaser, Daniel AU - Ratshikhopha, E AU - Kirstena, Z AU - Van Reenen, Tobias H AU - Masuku, Z AU - Singo, D AB - In emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, the reuse or reprocessing of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) may be required to mitigate exposure risk. Research gap: Only a few studies evaluated decontamination effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 that are practical for low-resource settings. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a relatively inexpensive ultraviolet germicidal irradiation chamber to decontaminate FFRs contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. A custom-designed UVGI chamber was constructed to determine the ability to decontaminate seven FFR models including N95s, KN95, and FFP2s inoculated with SARS-CoV-2. Vflex was excluded due to design folds/pleats and UVGI shadowing inside the chamber. Structural and functional integrity tolerated by each FFR model on repeated decontamination cycles was assessed. Twenty-seven participants were fit-tested over 30 cycles for each model and passed if the fit factor was =100. Of the FFR models included for testing, only the KN95 model failed filtration. The 3M™ 3M 1860 and Halyard™ duckbill 46727 (formerly Kimberly Clark) models performed better on fit testing than other models for both pre-and-post decontaminations. Fewer participants (0.3 and 0.7%, respectively) passed fit testing for Makrite 9500 N95 and Greenline 5200 FFP2 and only two for the KN95 model post decontamination. Fit testing appeared to be more affected by donning & doffing, as some passed with adjustment and repeat fit testing. A = 3 log reduction of SARS-CoV-2 was achieved for worn-in FFRs namely Greenline 5200 FFP2. Conclusion: The study showed that not all FFRs tested could withstand 30 cycles of UVGI decontamination without diminishing filtration efficiency or facial fit. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 log reduction varied across the FFRs, implying that the decontamination efficacy largely depends on the decontamination protocol and selection of FFRs. We demonstrated the effectiveness of a low-cost and scalable decontamination method for SARS-CoV-2 and the effect on fit testing using people instead of manikins. It is recognized that extensive experimental evidence for the reuse of decontaminated FFRs is lacking, and thus this study would be relevant and of interest in crisis-capacity settings, particularly in low-resource facilities. DA - 2022-12 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR J1 - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 20 KW - Airborne infection control KW - SARS-CoV-2 KW - Low-cost UVGI chamber KW - Respirator reprocessing KW - UVGI effectiveness KW - Viral filtration efficiency KW - Viral inactivation efficacy LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2022 SM - 1545-9624 SM - 1545-9632 T1 - Effectiveness of a low-cost UVGI chamber for decontaminating filtering facepiece respirators to extend reuse TI - Effectiveness of a low-cost UVGI chamber for decontaminating filtering facepiece respirators to extend reuse UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12609 ER -26456