Reusing and/or reprocessing the N95 face respirator mask or equivalent: An integrative review

Gir, Elucir; Menegueti, Mayra Gonçalves; Sousa, Laelson Rochelle Milanês; Pereira-Caldeira, Natália Maria Vieira; Carvalho, Milton Jorge de; Reis, Renata Karina

doi:10.1590/1518-8345.5135.3492

Objective:

to analyze the scientific evidence available on the different reprocessing methods and the necessary conditions for reuse of the N95 face respirator mask or equivalent.

Method:

an integrative literature review. The PICO strategy was used to elaborate the question. The search was conducted in four databases: PubMed, SciVerse Scopus, WebofScience and EMBASE, considering any period of time.

Results:

a total of 32 studies were included from the 561 studies identified, and they were presented in two categories: “Conditions for reuse” and “Reprocessing the masks”. Of the evaluated research studies, seven(21.8%) addressed the reuse of the N95 face respirator mask or equivalent and 25(78.1%) evaluated different reprocessing methods, namely: ultraviolet germicidal irradiation(14); hydrogen peroxide(8); vapor methods(14); using dry heat(5) and chemical methods(sodium hypochlorite[⁶6 Ye L, Yang S, Liu C. Infection prevention and control in nursing severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients during the pandemic. Crit Care. 2020;24(1):388. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-020-03076-1
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-020-03076... ], ethanol[⁴4 Ministério da Saúde (BR). Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Infecção humana pelo novo coronavírus (2019-nCoV). Boletim Epidemiológico 2. [Internet]. Brasília: SVS; 2020 [cited 2021 Jan 17]. Available from: https://portalarquivos2.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/fevereiro/07/BE-COE-Coronavirus-n020702.pdf
https://portalarquivos2.saude.gov.br/ima... ] and sodium chloride with sodium bicarbonate and dimethyldioxirane[¹1 Zhu H, Wei L, Niu P. The novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China. Glob Health Res Policy. 2020;5(1):1-3. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-020-00135-6
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-020-00135... ]). We emphasize that different methods were used in one same article.

Conclusion:

no evidence was found to support safe reprocessing of face respirator masks. In addition, reuse is contraindicated due to the risk of self-contamination and inadequate sealing.

Descriptors:
Personal Protective Equipment; Pandemics; Coronavirus Infections; Facial Masks; Respiratory Protective Devices; Review

[1] Authors’ contribution:

Study concept and design: Elucir Gir, Mayra Gonçalves Menegueti, Laelson Rochelle Milanês Sousa, Natália Maria Vieira Pereira-Caldeira, Milton Jorge de Carvalho, Renata Karina Reis. Obtaining data: Elucir Gir, Mayra Gonçalves Menegueti, Laelson Rochelle Milanês Sousa, Natália Maria Vieira Pereira-Caldeira, Milton Jorge de Carvalho, Renata Karina Reis. Data analysis and interpretation: Elucir Gir, Mayra Gonçalves Menegueti, Laelson Rochelle Milanês Sousa, Natália Maria Vieira Pereira-Caldeira, Milton Jorge de Carvalho, Renata Karina Reis. Drafting the manuscript: Elucir Gir, Mayra Gonçalves Menegueti, Laelson Rochelle Milanês Sousa, Natália Maria Vieira Pereira-Caldeira, Milton Jorge de Carvalho, Renata Karina Reis. Critical review of the manuscript as to its relevant intellectual content: Elucir Gir, Mayra Gonçalves Menegueti, Laelson Rochelle Milanês Sousa, Natália Maria Vieira Pereira-Caldeira, Milton Jorge de Carvalho, Renata Karina Reis.