Reusing and/or reprocessing the N95 face respirator mask or equivalent: An integrative review.
Elucir Gir, Mayra Gonçalves Menegueti, Laelson Rochelle Milanês Sousa and 3 others
PMID 34730768WHAT IT FOUND
The review found no evidence that face respirator masks can be safely reprocessed.
Chemical methods damage filtration, and reuse is contraindicated, though shortages push institutions to reuse masks anyway.
Key findings
01The review included 32 studies of reuse and reprocessing of face respirator masks.
02The review found no evidence to support safe reprocessing of face respirator masks.
03Reuse is contraindicated, although health institutions reuse masks when they face shortages.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most included studies were low-level evidence, and the review did not assess their methodological quality. The included studies were mainly laboratory-based and did not use masks contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 in health services. No study completed all required reprocessing validation steps. Evidence on reuse was limited, and findings depended on mask model and handling conditions.
Declared interests
No funding or conflict-of-interest statement is provided in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that hydrogen peroxide vapor makes mask reuse safe. The review says no study completed reprocessing validation, and reuse is contraindicated.