Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

July 31, 2020

Decontamination and Reuse of Surgical Masks and N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

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  • Seresirikachorn et al. evaluated the effectiveness of existing decontamination methods of surgical masks and N95 respirators with a systematic review of 15 studies published before April 11, 2020 that described 14 decontamination methods. They find a low level of evidence supporting the use of four of the methods for decontamination and reuse of N95 masks, including ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, moist heat, microwave–generated steam, and hydrogen peroxide vapor.  
  • None of the studies assessed surgical masks or contamination with SARS-CoV-2 specifically.  

Seresirikachorn et al. (July 30, 2020). Decontamination and Reuse of Surgical Masks and N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.379