Figure 3.

Efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) light delivered by low-pressure mercury decontamination device for decontamination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), bacteriophage MS2, and bacteriophage Phi6 on Moldex 1517 N95 respirators. 10-μL aliquots containing 10^>6 colony-forming units (CFU) or plaque-forming units (PFU) of the test organisms in the simulated mucous suspension were spread to cover an area of 1-cm2 on 3 different areas on the respirator surface (top exterior, edge exterior, and interior) as shown in Figure 1. The respirator was exposed to a 15-minute cycle of UV at 3 feet from the bulbs then turned for another 15-minute cycle on the opposite side. Error bars indicate standard error.