Study Provides Insight on Effectiveness of N95 Mask Decontamination

With the continued growth of the novel coronavirus across much of the Southern and Western United States, ensuring that health care providers—including oral health professionals—have the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) remains a challenge. One of the keys to safe provision of care is the N95 mask. A new study reports on the efficacy of decontamination and sterilization methods implemented so that N95 masks can be reused.

The study, published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, suggests that ultraviolet light, steam, low-dry heat, and commercial sterilization methods with ethylene oxide or vaporized hydrogen peroxide are effective at decontaminating N95s without degrading their quality. Authors also note that masks should be rotated in and out of use, as the virus is estimated to remain live for 72 hours. Read more here.