Evaluation of the survivability of MS2 viral aerosols deposited on filtering face piece respirator samples incorporating antimicrobial technologies.
Authors
Rengasamy-S; Fisher-E; Shaffer-RE
Source
Am J Infect Control 2010 Feb; 38(1):9-17
Abstract
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 log10 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 log10 reduction of 3.7 at 37 degrees C and 80% RH for 4 hours, which was statistically significant (P = .05) compared with coupons from the control respirators. Conclusion: Results from this study suggest that MS2 virus decontamination efficacy of antimicrobial respirators is dependent on the antimicrobial agent and storage conditions.
Keywords
Respiratory-protective-equipment; Respiratory-protection; Microorganisms; Infection-control; Viral-diseases; Viral-infections; Respirators;
Author Keywords: Antimicrobial technology; respirator; decontamination efficacy; virus aerosol; survivability
Contact
Ronald E. Shaffer, PhD, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, PO Box
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
RShaffer@cdc.gov
Priority Area
Healthcare and Social Assistance
Source Name
American Journal of Infection Control
