Sterilization of N95 respirators: The time for action is upon us

• Published in: Lung India Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 260 - 262
• Main Authors: Prakash, Arjun, Rao, Harshavardhan, Nair, Priya, Talwar, Surabhi, Kumar, V, Talwar, Deepak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-05-2020; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: coronavirus; coronavirus disease-19; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; decontamination; Disinfection & disinfectants; Epidemics; filtering facepiece respirator; gamma irradiation; Infections; Ionizing radiation; Masks; Medical equipment; Medical supplies; Microwaves; n95; pandemic; Pandemics; Pathogens; personal protective equipment; Public health; re-sterilization; reuse; Safety equipment; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Swine flu; Viruses; filtering facepiece respirator; decontamination; reuse; Coronavirus; personal protective equipment; gamma irradiation; coronavirus disease-19; N95; pandemic; re-sterilization
• ISSN: 0970-2113; 0974-598X
• DOI: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_191_20

Re-processing of primary protective equipment is the need of the hour with healthcare systems all over the world strained due to the shortage precipitated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The common methods of re-sterilization do not hold well for filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) as they affect their structure and function. We propose the validation and eventual use of gamma irradiation, an already existing method of re-sterilization, to disinfect FFRs in bulk.