Wipe Disinfection of Reusable Elastomeric Half-Mask Respirators for Health Care Use.

BACKGROUND

During shortages, elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMRs) are an alternative to reusing N95 filtering facepiece respirators but require between-use disinfection. The objectives of this study were to (a) measure microbial reductions on EHMR surfaces under laboratory conditions by a standardized procedure using wipes impregnated with health care disinfectants and to (b) measure microbial reductions on EHMRs disinfected by volunteer health care providers.

METHOD

We inoculated EHMR (Honeywell model RU8500) surfaces with spores, and bacteriophages MS2 and Φ6, and disinfected them using two wipes with hydrogen peroxide (HP), alcohols, and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). Then, we randomized 54 volunteer subjects into three groups (Group 1: two wipes with instructions, Group 2: five wipes with instructions, Group 3: no instructions or set number of wipes) and used 0.5% HP wipes without precleaning on EHMRs inoculated with and MS2.

FINDINGS

The laboratory study demonstrated that all organisms achieved at least 4 log median reductions (HP>QAC/alcohol>QAC>QAC/saline). was highly susceptible to HP and QAC/alcohol and Φ6 to all disinfectants. MS2 reduction was highest using HP and lowest using QAC/saline. was least susceptible. The volunteer study showed a 3 to 4 log average reductions of bacteria and virus; reductions were greater than MS2, with variability within and between subjects. : HP disinfectant wipes used in laboratory and by volunteers reduce bacteria and viruses on EHMRs by 3 to 4 log on average.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Commercially available hospital disinfectant wipes reduce bacteria and viruses on EHMRs and can fill the need for between-use disinfection. HP and combination QAC/alcohol have the greatest efficacy under our test conditions.