Subject validation of reusable N95 stop-gap filtering facepiece respirators in COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled widespread shortages of personal protective equipment including N95 respirators. Several centers are developing reusable stop-gap respirators as alternatives to disposable N95 respirators during public health emergencies, using techniques such as 3D-printing, silicone moulding and plastic extrusion. Effective sealing of the mask, combined with respiratory filters should achieve 95% or greater filtration of particles less than 1um. Quantitative fit-testing (QNFT) data from these stop-gap devices has not been published to date. Our team developed one such device, the "SSM", and evaluated it using QNFT.

Methods

Device prototypes were iteratively evaluated for comfort, breathability and communication, by team members wearing them f

SUBMITTER: Ng WCK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7665821 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature