Reliability of N95 respirators for respiratory protection before, during, and after nursing procedures

American Journal of Infection Control
Lorna K P SuenMargaret O'Donoghue

Abstract

The adequate fit of an N95 respirator is important for health care workers to reduce the transmission of airborne infectious diseases in the clinical setting. This study aimed to evaluate whether adequately sealed N95 respirators may provide consistent protection for the wearer while performing nursing procedures. Participants were a group of nursing students (N = 120). The best fitting respirator for these participants was identified from the 3 common models, 1860, 1860S, and 1870+ (3M), using the quantitative fit test (QNFT) method. Participants performed nursing procedures for 10-minute periods while wearing a backpack containing the portable aerosol spectrometers throughout the assessment to detect air particles inside the respirator. The average fit factor of the best fitting respirator worn by the participants dropped significantly after nursing procedures (184.85 vs 134.71) as detected by the QNFT. In addition, significant differences in particle concentration of different sizes (>0.3, >0.4, >1.0, and >4.0 µm) inside the respirator were detected by the portable aerosol spectrometers before, during, and after nursing procedures. Body movements during nursing procedures may increase the risk of face seal leakage. Further r...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 16, 2020·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Jos H VerbeekF Selcen Kilinc Balci
May 16, 2020·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Jos H VerbeekF Selcen Kilinc Balci
Jun 9, 2020·International Journal of Clinical Practice·Jennifer F Ha
Jul 22, 2020·International Journal of Emergency Medicine·James ChiangLatha Ganti
Sep 17, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Ka-Po LeeKa-Fu Yung
Mar 2, 2021·Measurement : Journal of the International Measurement Confederation·Balázs Illés, Péter Gordon
Jul 14, 2020·International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery·A Vergara-Buenaventura

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