Interim guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) allows for case-by-case decontamination and reuse of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) to conserve protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. No FFR decontamination methods are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, but limited research supports several methods of decontaminating the respirators. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, vaporous hydrogen peroxide and moist heat have shown the most promise. One risk of decontaminating N95 and other FFRs: the process may affect the respirators’ fit. (HealthLeaders Media story, 5/8/20)
