{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]],"date-time":"2025-12-31T11:55:49Z","timestamp":1767182149846,"version":"3.40.5"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,23]],"date-time":"2023-01-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1674432000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Institut de recherche Robert-Sauv\u00e9 en sant\u00e9 et s\u00e9curit\u00e9 du travail du Qu\u00e9bec","award":["2020-0067"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2020-0067"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>While facing personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, several institutions looked to PPE decontamination and reuse options. This study documents the effect of two hydrogen peroxide treatments on filtration efficiency and fit tests as well as the side effects for volunteers after the decontamination of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). We also propose an efficient and large-scale treatment protocol that allows for the traceability of this protective equipment in hospitals during PPE shortages.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The effects of low-temperature hydrogen peroxide sterilization and hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) on two FFR models (filtration, decontamination level, residual emanation) were evaluated. Ten volunteers reported comfort issues and side effects after wearing 1h FFRs worn and decontaminated up to five times.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The decontamination process does not negatively affect FFR efficiency, but repeated use and handling tend to lead to damage, limiting the number of times FFRs can be reused. Moreover, the recommended 24-h post-treatment aeration does not sufficiently eliminate residual hydrogen peroxide. Prolonged aeration time increased user comfort when using decontaminated FFRs.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>HPV and low-temperature hydrogen peroxide sterilization seem to be appropriate treatments for FFR decontamination when the PPE is reused by the same user. PPE decontamination and reuse methods should be carefully considered as they are critical for the comfort and safety of healthcare workers.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0280426","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,23]],"date-time":"2023-01-23T18:32:50Z","timestamp":1674498770000},"page":"e0280426","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Filtration performance, fit test and side effects of respiratory personal protective equipment following decontamination: Observations for user safety and comfort"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9623-1748","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Nathalie","family":"Turgeon","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"M\u00e9lissa","family":"Pag\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Justin","family":"Robillard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"V\u00e9ronique","family":"Goulet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ali","family":"Bahloul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2431-5053","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Clothilde","family":"Brochot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mohamed Nejib","family":"Saidi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nathan","family":"Dumont-Leblond","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9912-0349","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Caroline","family":"Duchaine","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,23]]},"reference":[{"year":"2020","author":"Institut National de Sant\u00e9 Publique du Qu\u00e9bec.","journal-title":"COVID-19: Evaluation of Disinfection Options for N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators in the Context of the Pandemic","key":"pone.0280426.ref001"},{"year":"2021","author":"Government of Canada","journal-title":"COVID-19 medical masks and respirators: Information for health professionals","key":"pone.0280426.ref002"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1080\/15459624.2010.484794","article-title":"Analysis of residual chemicals on filtering facepiece respirators after decontamination.","volume":"7","author":"WB Salter","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Occup Environ Hyg"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref004","first-page":"815","article-title":"Evaluation of five decontamination methods for filtering facepiece respirators.","volume":"53","author":"DJ Viscusi","year":"2009","journal-title":"Ann Occup Hyg."},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1080\/15459624.2015.1018518","article-title":"Effects of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) on N95 Respirator Filtration Performance and Structural Integrity.","volume":"12","author":"WG Lindsley","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Occup Environ Hyg."},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e49","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajic.2018.02.018","article-title":"Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation of influenza-contaminated N95 filtering facepiece respirators.","volume":"46","author":"D Mills","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am J Infect Control"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref007","article-title":"Assessment of N95 respirator decontamination and re-use for SARS-CoV-2.","author":"RJ Fischer","year":"2020","journal-title":"medRxiv"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajic.2010.07.004","article-title":"A pandemic influenza preparedness study: use of energetic methods to decontaminate filtering facepiece respirators contaminated with H1N1 aerosols and droplets.","volume":"39","author":"BK Heimbuch","year":"2011","journal-title":"Am J Infect Control"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref009","first-page":"92","article-title":"Effectiveness of three decontamination treatments against influenza virus applied to filtering facepiece respirators.","volume":"56","author":"MB Lore","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ann Occup Hyg"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6348","DOI":"10.1021\/acsnano.0c03597","article-title":"Can N95 Respirators Be Reused after Disinfection? How Many Times?","volume":"14","author":"L Liao","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Nano."},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"876","DOI":"10.1017\/ice.2021.230","article-title":"Addressing personal protective equipment (PPE) decontamination: Methylene blue and light inactivates severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on N95 respirators and medical masks with maintenance of integrity and fit.","volume":"43","author":"TS Lendvay","year":"2022","journal-title":"Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"979","DOI":"10.1093\/annweh\/wxab020","article-title":"Quantitative Fit Evaluation of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators and Coronavirus Inactivation Following Heat Treatment.","volume":"65","author":"TL Massey","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann Work Expo Health."},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref013","first-page":"93","article-title":"Effect of Decontamination on the Filtration Efficiency of Two Filtering Facepiece Respirator Models.","volume":"24","author":"DJ Viscusi","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Int Soc Respir Prot."},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"698","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2020.09.032","article-title":"Gravity steam reprocessing in healthcare facilities for the reuse of N95 respirators.","volume":"106","author":"A Aljabo","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Hosp Infect"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"277","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2020.07.035","article-title":"N95 mask reuse in a major urban hospital: COVID-19 response process and procedure.","volume":"106","author":"MP Czubryt","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Hosp Infect"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1221","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajic.2021.06.018","article-title":"Safety and structural integrity of N95\/PFF2 respirators decontamination.","volume":"49","author":"W Coelho","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Infect Control"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3201\/eid2609.201524","article-title":"Effectiveness of N95 Respirator Decontamination and Reuse against SARS-CoV-2 Virus","volume":"26","author":"RJ Fischer","year":"2020","journal-title":"Emerg Infect Dis"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajic.2020.06.194","article-title":"N95 reprocessing by low temperature sterilization with 59% vaporized hydrogen peroxide during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.","volume":"49","author":"M Jatta","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Infect Control"},{"key":"pone.0280426.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2020.10.007","article-title":"Use, re-use or discard? 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