Background: The coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an unprecedented shortage of healthcare resources, primarily personal protective equipment like surgical masks, and N95/filtering face piece type 2 (FFP2) respirators. Objective: Reuse of surgical masks and N95/FFP2 respirators may circumvent the supply chain constraints and thus overcome mass shortage. Methods, design, setting, and measurement: Herein, we tested the effects of dry- and moist-air controlled heating treatment on structure and chemical integrity, decontamination yield, and filtration performance of surgical masks and FFP2 respirators. Results: We found that treatment in a climate chamber at 70°C during 1 h with 75% humidity rate was adequate for enabling substantial decontamination of both respiratory viruses, oropharyngeal bacteria, and model animal coronaviuses, while maintaining a satisfying filtering capacity. Limitations: Further studies are now required to confirm the feasibility of the whole process during routine practice. Conclusion: Our findings provide compelling evidence for the recycling of pre-used surgical masks and N95/FFP2 respirators in case of imminent mass shortfall.
Keywords: COVID-19; FFP2/N95; SARS–CoV-2; coronavirus; facemask; heating; recyclibility; surgical face masks.
Copyright © 2020 Bernard, Desoubeaux, Bodier-Montagutelli, Pardessus, Brea, Allimonnier, Eymieux, Raynal, Vasseur, Vecellio, Mathé, Guillon, Lanotte, Pourchez, Verhoeven, Esnouf, Ferry, Eterradossi, Blanchard, Brown, Roingeard, Alcaraz, Cinquin, Si-Tahar and Heuzé-Vourc'h.