Hydrogen Peroxide Methods for Decontaminating N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators.

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Occupational health and safety
• Materials science

Background:

• Limited supply of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) during pandemics necessitates decontamination methods.
• Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a common decontaminant in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on H2O2 decontamination of N95 FFRs.
• To identify methods that effectively inactivate viruses while preserving respirator function.
• To present current U.S. Federal guidelines relevant to FFR decontamination.

Main Methods:

• Literature search for studies evaluating H2O2 decontamination of N95 FFRs.
• Analysis of effects on viral inactivation, filtration efficiency, and respirator fit.
• Inclusion of relevant U.S. Federal guidelines.

Main Results:

• Twenty-four laboratory studies were summarized.
• H2O2 decontamination systems vary in delivery, temperature, and duration, impacting FFR performance.
• Some methods achieved >3 log attenuation of SARS-CoV-2, while others require further evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Most H2O2 methods effectively decontaminate N95 FFRs without compromising function.
• Certain methods can adversely affect N95 FFR fit or filtration efficiency, potentially undetected by users.
• Understanding method variations, FFR model differences, and decontamination process hazards is crucial for safe respirator reuse.