Evaluation of the survivability of MS2 viral aerosols deposited on filtering face piece respirator samples incorporating antimicrobial technologies.
BACKGROUND
Respiratory protective devices exposed to pathogenic microorganisms present a potential source of transmission of infection during handling. In this study, the efficacy of 4 antimicrobial respirators to decontaminate MS2, a surrogate for pathogenic viruses, was evaluated and compared with control N95 filtering face piece respirators, which did not contain any known antimicrobial components.


METHODS
MS2 containing droplet nuclei were generated using a Collison nebulizer and loaded onto respirator coupons at a face velocity of 13.2 cm/seconds for 30 minutes. The coupons were incubated at 2 different temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions and analyzed for viable MS2 at different time intervals.


RESULTS
Results showed that log(10) reduction of MS2 was not statistically significant (P > .05) between the control and antimicrobial respirator coupons, when stored at 22 degrees C and 30% RH up to 20 hours. Coupons from 1 of the 4 antimicrobial respirators showed an average MS2 log(10) reduction of 3.7 at 37 degrees C and 80% RH for 4 hours, which was statistically significant (P < or = .05) compared with coupons from the control respirators.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study suggest that MS2 virus decontamination efficacy of antimicrobial respirators is dependent on the antimicrobial agent and storage conditions.
Rengasamy
Samy
S
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA. RShaffer@cdc.gov
Fisher
Edward
E
Shaffer
Ronald E
RE
D000336:Aerosols; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D017909:Levivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000821:virology*; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
D000336:Aerosols; D004202:Disinfectants