A Practical Approach to Filtering Facepiece Respirator Decontamination and Reuse: Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation

See t.ly/5T0I — Prior outbreaks of respiratory viruses have demonstrated the need for adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, particularly filtering facepiece respirators (FFR). Due to shortfalls of PPE during the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, the need for FFR decontamination and reuse (FFR-DR) strategies is paramount. This paper aims to discuss primary decontamination strategies, with an in-depth analysis of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), arriving at the decontamination strategy utilized at the Nebraska Medical Center (NMC). Methods Review of the primary literature in regard to FFR-DR as well as a synopsis of the current protocol for FFR-DR at NMC.…