Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) disinfection and risk of surface damage from hydrogen peroxide and quaternary ammonium chloride-based disinfectants

Source avec lien : Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, (En ligne). 10.1080/15459624.2022.2088771

Les appareils respiratoires à ventilation assistée réutilisables (PAPR) sont de plus en plus utilisés comme alternative aux masques ou aux respirateurs jetables par les professionnels de la santé qui ont besoin d’être protégés des gouttelettes respiratoires contenant des virus respiratoires, mais peu d’informations sont disponibles sur la résistance des PAPR aux dommages causés par les désinfections répétées au cours de leur durée de vie. Cette étude a testé les pièces de quatre PAPR contre quatre désinfectants disponibles dans le commerce, à base de peroxyde d’hydrogène et de chlorure d’ammonium quaternaire, par immersion pendant 28 jours afin de simuler une exposition prolongée.

Reusable Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) have been increasingly used as an alternative to disposable masks or respirators for healthcare workers needing protection from respiratory droplets containing respiratory viruses, but little information is available concerning how well PAPRs resist damage from repeat disinfection over their lifetime. This study tested parts from four PAPRs against four commercially available hydrogen peroxide and quaternary ammonium chloride disinfectants by immersion for 28 days to simulate prolonged exposure. Risk of surface damage was assessed through color change, mass change, and visual observation of damage. Minimal risk of damage was found for three of the disinfectants tested and for the fourth disinfectant, a risk of surface damage to a small number of parts. Exposure to tap water caused similar damage in many cases. The study demonstrated that risk of surface damage varied by part and disinfectant, indicating that some disinfectants are more likely to be compatible against the wide range of materials and parts in a commercial PAPR and other disinfectants may show varying compatibility, with more risk to certain materials or parts.

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