Re: Re-using PPE

28/03/2020 at 1:19 pm #76596

Anonymous

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Dear all,
Mark Reggers, Occupational Hygienist at 3M has posted the following comments in LinkedIn specifically about this issue:

“3M has received numerous questions concerning potential methods to disinfect Disposable or Filtering Face Respirators (FFR), including questions relating to studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of various disinfection methods for these types of respirators. In an attempt to respond to urgent requests we are receiving from customers and organizations around the world, 3M have prepared this bulletin to provide information concerning a few methods that have been suggested to potentially help disinfect FFRs.

Based on currently available data, 3M does NOT recommend or support attempts to sanitize, disinfect, or sterilize 3M FFRs. If organisations choose to attempt to disinfect filtering facepiece respirators, using any of the methods described in this bulletin or any other methods, then such organisations should carefully consider the findings described in this document and understand that doing so may impact the filtration performance and/or the respirator materials in such a way that may reduce the respirator’s ability to seal to the wearer’s face and provide the expected protection for this type of respirator.”

I have attached the Technical Bulletin for your convenience.

Kind regards

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Helen Truscott RN,RM,MPH,GDipTMH,CIPC-A
Ph:0410 011983
E:Helentruscott@hotmail.com

Hi Jenny

Not sure about cellulose components of mask filtration material, and compatibility with the low temp plasma. Would need some discussion with the steriliser manufacturer and the masks manufacturer to guarantee appropriate processing, evening if you were not aimi8ng at terminal sterilisation.

Cheers
Michael

Michael Wishart | Infection Control Coordinator, CICP-E

St Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside | 627 Rode Road CHERMSIDE QLD 4032
T +61 7 3326 3068 | F +61 7 3607 2226
E michael.wishart@svha.org.au |
W https://www.svphn.org.au

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Hi Fiona – I have just heard that a group in the US is suggesting putting the N95 mask through a sterrad cycle- thoughts anyone?
Jenny McCarthy
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On 27 Mar 2020, at 4:04 pm, Infection Control <infectioncontrol@arcadiapittwater.com.au> wrote:
Hi Fiona,

The CDC has the following information:

Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Facemasks
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/face-masks.html

Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy/index.html

Checklist for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators during the COVID-19 Response https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/checklist-n95-strategy.html

There are links regarding isolation gowns & protective eyewear as well.
There are strategies for conventional, contingency & crisis capacity.

Susan

Susan Farrugia
Infection Control Coordinator
Arcadia Pittwater Private Hospital
4 Daydream Street
Warriewood NSW
Infectioncontrol@arcadiapittwater.com.au

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Hi Fiona,

The Dutch are investigating this:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/timhoreman_rivm-rdgg-lumc-activity-6647000197740142592-L_rT

Kind Regards
Terry McAuley
Director
MSc Medical Device Decontamination

PO BOX 2249, Greenvale, VIC Australia 3059

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Hi all,

It has been suggested to me that with PPE shortages associated with Coronavirus that we may need to decontaminate and re-use PPE.

Although this goes against all my infection control experience and training, I am interested to hear from any site that may be investigating this.

What method of decontamination is being considered / investigated?

How do you know it has been effective in decontamination?

How do you know the PPE item is still effective for protecting staff?

Kind regards,

Fiona De Sousa CICP-E| Nurse Manager | Infection Prevention & Control Unit

Launceston General Hospital, Level 2, Launceston TAS 7250

phone: 6777 6715 | mobile: 0408 487 197 | fax: 6777 5170 | email: fiona.de.sousa@ths.tas.gov.au |

intranet: http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/intranet/thon/infection_control

IPCU – ‘By working together we promote a culture of safety to reduce preventable infections and transmission of multi-resistant organisms’

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