Strategies for the reuse of N95 and N99 respiratory masks during the COVID-19 pandemic

TL;DR

This paper reviews and identifies effective disinfection methods for reusing N95 and N99 masks during COVID-19 shortages, aiming to ensure safety and supply for healthcare workers.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of promising disinfection techniques for mask reuse, including potential future methods and modifications.

Findings

Identifies key disinfection methods suitable for current shortages

Evaluates effectiveness and safety of various reuse strategies

Suggests directions for future mask decontamination research

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a strain of unprecedented scale on health systems around the world. In order to reliably protect medical personnel, and thus to contain the spread of the pandemic, it is essential to provide N95 or N99 (European FFP2 or FFP3) respiratory masks (FFRs). Such masks are currently in extreme shortage: To guarantee their supply sufficiently and for all cases, it would absolutely necessary to reuse them. In recent years, the scientific literature has laid out various possibilities to disinfect the FFRs for their reuse several times. We identify the most promising disinfection methods for the current critical situation (internationally) and project further methods and modifications beyond these.