title: Capture of 0.1-μm aerosol particles containing viable H1N1 influenza virus by N95 filtering facepiece respirators.
abstract: Nosocomial infections pose an escalating threat to both patients and healthcare workers (HCWs). A widely recommended device for individual respiratory protection, the N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) has been shown to provide efficient filtration of inert particles larger and smaller than the nominal most-penetrating particle size (MPPS) range, 0.03-0.3 μm. Humans generate respiratory aerosols in the MPPS range, suggesting that short-range disease transmission could occur via small infectious particles. Data presented here show that the N95 FFR will afford a significant measure of protection against infectious particles as small as a bare H1N1 influenza virion, and that the capture mechanism does not discriminate in favor of, or against, biological particles.
authors.affiliation: a Applied Research Associates , Panama City , Florida.
authors.forename: Delbert A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Harnish
authors.affiliation: a Applied Research Associates , Panama City , Florida.
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Heimbuch
authors.affiliation: b Universal Technology Corporation , Beavercreek , Ohio.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balzli
authors.affiliation: c U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority , Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: b Universal Technology Corporation , Beavercreek , Ohio.
authors.forename: April E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lumley
authors.affiliation: d National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.affiliation: e Air Force Research Laboratory, Tyndall Air Force Base , Florida.
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wander
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009314:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; D010316:Particle Size; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols
keywords: Bioaerosol; H1N1; N95 respirator; disease transmission; infection; respiratory