title: A pandemic influenza preparedness study: use of energetic methods to decontaminate filtering facepiece respirators contaminated with H1N1 aerosols and droplets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A major concern among health care experts is a projected shortage of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) during an influenza pandemic. One option for mitigating an FFR shortage is to decontaminate and reuse the devices. Many parameters, including biocidal efficacy, filtration performance, pressure drop, fit, and residual toxicity, must be evaluated to verify the effectiveness of this strategy. The focus of this research effort was on evaluating the ability of microwave-generated steam, warm moist heat, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation at 254 nm to decontaminate H1N1 influenza virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six commercially available FFR models were contaminated with H1N1 influenza virus as aerosols or droplets that are representative of human respiratory secretions. A subset of the FFRs was treated with the aforementioned decontamination technologies, whereas the remaining FFRs were used to evaluate the H1N1 challenge applied to the devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 3 decontamination technologies provided >4-log reduction of viable H1N1 virus. In 93% of our experiments, the virus was reduced to levels below the limit of detection of the method used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data are encouraging and may contribute to the evolution of effective strategies for the decontamination and reuse of FFRs.
authors.affiliation: Applied Research Associates, Tyndall Air Force Base, 104 Research Road, Panama City, FL 32403, USA. bheimbuch@ara.com
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Heimbuch
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: April E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lumley
authors.forename: Chang-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Myung-Heui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wander
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D050296:Microbial Viability; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols