Table 2.
Effects of various decontamination methods on filtration efficiency, physical integrity, and residual chemical hazards
| References | Method | Equipment | Dose | Time | Post-decontamination filtration efficiency | Post-decontamination physical integrity | Residual chemical hazards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [39] | Ozone | “A2Z” brand “bubbler” ozone generator | 10–20 ppm | 10–30 min | 100% | ✔ | NA |
| [40] |
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) |
UV Bench Lamp (UVC, 254 nm, 40 W), Model XX-40S (UVP, LLC, Upland, CA) | 1.8 mW/cm2 | 45 min | Mean penetration levels < 5% | ✔ | NA |
| [41] | Sterilgard III laminar flow cabinet (The Baker Company, Sanford, ME) | 1.8 mW/cm2 | 30 min | NA | Significant reduction in fit, increase in discomfort, or increased difficulty in donning | Median odor | |
| [40] | Ethylene oxide | Amsco® Eagle® 3017 100% EtO Sterilizer/Aerator (STERIS Corp., Mentor, OH) | 736.4 mg/L | 1 h | Mean penetration levels < 5% | ✔ | NA |
| [40] | Hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (HPGP) | STERRAD® 100S H2O2 Gas Plasma Sterilizer (Advanced Sterilization Products, Irvine, CA), | (59% H2O2) | 55 min | Mean penetration levels > 5% | ✔ | NA |
| [40] | Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor (HPV) | RBDS™, (BIOQUELL UK Ltd, Andover, UK) | 59% | 15 min dwell (125 min total cycle time) | Mean penetration levels < 5% | ✔ | NA |
| [47] | BIOQUELL Clarus C (Bioquell Inc., Horsham, PA) | 35% | 20 min dwell (total cycle time NA) | NA | ✔ | Not detected | |
| [41] | Microwave-generated steam (MGS) | 2,450-MHz, Sharp Model R-305KS (Sharp Electronics, Mahwah, NJ |
750 W/ft3 (at maximum power setting of 10) |
2 min | Mean penetration levels < 5% | Partial | NA |
| [40] | 2450 MHz, Sharp Model R-305KS (Sharp Electronics, Mahwah, NJ) |
750 W/ft3 (at maximum power setting of 10) |
2 min | NA | Significant reduction in fit, increase in discomfort, or increased difficulty in donning | Median odor | |
| [40] | Bleach | 6.00 ± 0.06% (w/w) available chlorine; Cat No. 7495.7–1, CAS No. 7732–18-5 (Ricca Chemical Company, Pequannock, NJ) | 0.6% | 30 min | Mean penetration levels < 5% | Tarnished metallic nosebands, oxidized staples, yellow inner nose pads | Bleach odor |
| [40] | Liquid hydrogen peroxide | 30% hydrogen peroxide; Cat No. H325-500, CAS Nos. 7722–84-1, 7732–18-5, 12,058–66-1 (Fisher Scientific, Fair Lawn, NJ) | 6% | 30 min | Mean penetration levels < 5% | ✔ | NA |
| [40] | Moist heat | Caron model 6010 laboratory incubator (Marietta, OH) |
60 0C 80% Relative Humidity |
30 min | Mean penetration levels < 5% | Partial Damage | None |
| [41] | Caron Model 6010 laboratory incubator (Marietta, Ohio) |
60 0C 80% Relative Humidity |
30 min | NA | Significant reduction in fit, increase in discomfort, or increased difficulty in donning | Median odor |
✔ kept physical integrity, NA not available from the reference, mins minutes, ppm parts per million, mW/cm2 milliwatt per square centimeter, mg/L milligrams per liter, W/ft3 watt per cubic feet