Sterilization of PPE using Hydrogen peroxide
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, including N95 masks (filtering facepiece respirators; FFRs). Their sterilization and subsequent reuse have the potential to substantially mitigate shortages. The disrupted supply lines, and quarantine and lock-down measures implemented across the countries have resulted in an acute shortage of quality PPEs, even in the developed and rich nations. Hence, proactive capacity-building measures will be urgently required to safely decontaminate the PPEs to enable their selective reuse during contingency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
It observed that the Sterilization process was successful consistently and therefore Hydrogen Peroxide-based decontamination model will have universal applicability and utility. Sterilization can be easily and economically scaled up and can be instrumental in easing global PPE shortages in any biosafety facility or in health care settings during pandemic situations such as COVID-19
STERILIZATION OF FACE SHIELD – DISINFECTION AND CLEANING
Face shields are an inevitable part of the bio-defense mechanism in pandemic days especially in high-risk areas or places possible to see a large crowd movement like airports or railway stations. Face shields have become an important part of personal protective equipment against Covid-19. Disinfecting your face shields and cleaning them regularly is important.
Usage: Spray Wesol all-in-one on the face shield. Leave for a few minutes (5 to 10 mins.) and then wipe off with a clean cloth.
N95 respirators and other PPE samples
Key steps must be taken to ensure the proper functioning and usage of disinfected PPE:
1. It must be ensured that PPE heavily soiled with patient fluids or physically damaged are to be discarded at the doffing site itself as per the Institutional guidelines.
2. Integrity of the disinfection process must be ensured with appropriate quality control for individual treatment cycle. We recommend using B. stearothermophilus spores as biological indicators for this purpose.
3. Following successful disinfection, the PPE must be checked for its integrity and strength.
4. User experience should be factored in determining the suitability of PPE in question for potential reuse
Following these guidelines, researchers have successfully processed more than 2000 PPE bodysuits used in COVID19 hospital areas with a post-disinfection recovery rate for functional PPE to be>80%.
This is high recovery rate using Hydrogen Peroxide disinfection is indicative of environmental and economical sustainability.
References:
Saini et al. Gut Pathog (2020) 12:29 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-020-00367-4
Analysis of SteraMist ionized hydrogen peroxide technology in the sterilization of N95 respirators and other PPE
Crossref DOI link: https://doi.org/10.1038/S41598-021-81365-7