Evaluation of the survivability of MS2 viral aerosols deposited on filtering face piece respirator samples incorporating antimicrobial technologies.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Respiratory protective devices exposed to pathogenic microorganisms present a potential source of transmission of infection during handling. In this study, the efficacy of 4 antimicrobial respirators to decontaminate MS2, a surrogate for pathogenic viruses, was evaluated and compared with control N95 filtering face piece respirators, which did not contain any known antimicrobial components.

METHODS:

MS2 containing droplet nuclei were generated using a Collison nebulizer and loaded onto respirator coupons at a face velocity of 13.2 cm/seconds for 30 minutes. The coupons were incubated at 2 different temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions and analyzed for viable MS2 at different time intervals.

RESULTS:

Results showed that log(10) reduction of MS2 was not statistically significant (P > .05) between the control and antimicrobial respirator coupons, when stored at 22 degrees C and 30% RH up to 20 hours. Coupons from 1 of the 4 antimicrobial respirators showed an average MS2 log(10) reduction of 3.7 at 37 degrees C and 80% RH for 4 hours, which was statistically significant (P < or = .05) compared with coupons from the control respirators.

CONCLUSION:

Results from this study suggest that MS2 virus decontamination efficacy of antimicrobial respirators is dependent on the antimicrobial agent and storage conditions.

• Authors: Samy Rengasamy, Edward Fisher, Ronald E Shaffer
• Journal: American journal of infection control (Am J Infect Control) Vol. 38 Issue 1 Pg. 9-17 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 1527-3296 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19896238 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Published by Mosby, Inc.

Chemical References

• Aerosols
• Disinfectants

Topics

• Aerosols
• Disinfectants (pharmacology)
• Disinfection (methods)
• Humans
• Humidity
• Levivirus (drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Microbial Viability (drug effects)
• Temperature
• Time Factors
• Ventilators, Mechanical (virology)
• Viral Plaque Assay