Investigators claim that their device can decontaminate N95s and surgical masks in the time it would take an infection preventionist to wash her hands.
In a normal year, the reuse of N95 and surgical face masks wouldn’t happen, but this has not been a normal year. When supplies of the masks ran short early on during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, they had to be reused and methods were sought to decontaminate them. Larger hospitals and healthcare systems have the capacity to use ultraviolet (UV) light to decontaminate face masks, but what about smaller hospitals or points of care such as a doctor’s office? Investigators with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine think that they might have found the solution to this problem, according to a pre-print study in the American Journal of Infection Control.
They say that the UV radiation needed to inactivate 90% of single-stranded RNA viruses on gel can be anywhere from 1.32 - 3.20 mJ • cm. This should also be enough to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 on face shields, though the investigators note that there’s no real consensus on this point yet. But because of their porousness, N95s and surgical masks (what the authors refer to as FFRs—filtering facepiece respirators) would require a UV dose of at least 1 J•cm.
“This relatively high required dose may make existing UVGI [ultraviolet germicidal irradiation] devices inefficient for decontamination in this context,” the study states. “For example, we previously described a protocol for the decontamination of FFR in biosafety cabinets available in academic laboratories. Achieving germicidal doses in these cabinets would require a minimum of 4.3 hours per-side, limiting the ease of use and throughput capacity of these devices for UVGI. These data are summarized in a recently released” US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
The investigators developed what they described as a small-footprint UV-C tower device called the Synchronous UV Decontamination System (SUDS). They claim that SUDS can decontaminate N95s and surgical masks in the time it would take a healthcare provider, such as an infection preventionist, to wash her hands. SUDS is a small machine, small enough to fit on a nursing station counter, according to the study. It can hit all surfaces of the masks with more than 2 J• cm, disinfecting them in less than a minute.
“Care providers could use our device to rapidly decontaminate their mask between patient encounters during standard handwashing protocols,” the study states. “Our proposed decontamination workflow using SUDS is as follows: 1) care provider doffs mask and places it in SUDS, 2) while SUDS runs, care providers can replace gloves and wash hands, 3) SUDS door opens automatically and care provider removes decontaminated mask. This workflow ensures that a care provider can continue using the same mask, which minimizes the need for re-fitting, and obviates the need for collection and dissemination.”
The study’s investigators note that other researchers have also concluded that UVGI is less likely to compromise the masks than bleach, microwave irradiation, and vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and various healthcare facilities have started using what the study calls “homebrew” UVIG devices.
“Many of the existing solutions, however, require collection and dissemination of masks to be decontaminated in batches’, adding logistical requirements to already busy workflows,” the study states. “Motivated by this, we designed the SUDS to fit directly into the workflow at the point-of-care to provide quick and easy decontamination of FFR.”
The Role of Environmental Hygiene in Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance
March 19th 2024Uncover the pivotal role of environmental hygiene in thwarting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for infection prevention teams. Learn how rigorous cleaning protocols and advanced technologies enhance patient safety and combat AMR.
Four Years After COVID-19: What Has the Infection Prevention Community Learned?
March 15th 2024Four years ago today, March 15, 2020, the COVID-19 lockdown began, and since then, the world has undergone significant changes. It has been a terrifying experience for everyone, especially for the infection prevention community, both within and outside of the health care sector. However, a crucial question remains unanswered: What has the infection prevention community learned from this pandemic, and where does it go from here?
COVID-19 Harmonization: Balancing Risks and Benefits of CDC's Latest Move
March 11th 2024The CDC's recent decision to align recommendations for respiratory viruses, particularly COVID-19, has garnered support from the public and infectious disease societies. However, as the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) lends its backing to the CDC's harmonization efforts, concerns persist regarding the implications of this shift, especially considering the Omicron variant's unique characteristics and the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19's multi-system impacts.
Voices of Resilience: Q&A With the Editor of "Corona City: Voices From an Epicenter"
March 1st 2024Step into the diverse and poignant world of "Corona City: Voices From an Epicenter" with editor Lorraine Ash, MA. In this insightful Q&A, learn about the origins of this remarkable anthology, the challenges faced in capturing raw, unfiltered narratives of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lasting impact of these stories on readers and communities alike.
Rare Disease Day 2024: Spotlight on Rare Infectious Diseases
February 29th 2024Rare Disease Day on February 29, 2024, shines a global light on the impact of rare diseases, including rare infectious diseases. With a focus on early diagnosis and treatment access, this day highlights the struggles of those with rare conditions.