TY - JOUR
T1 - Reliability of N95 respirators for respiratory protection before, during, and after nursing procedures
AU - Suen, Lorna K.P.
AU - Yang, Lin
AU - Ho, Suki S.K.
AU - Fung, Keith H.K.
AU - Boost, Maureen V.
AU - Wu, Cynthia S.T.
AU - Au-Yeung, Cypher H.
AU - O'Donoghue, Margaret
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.
PY - 2017/9/1
Y1 - 2017/9/1
N2 - Background 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. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusions Body movements during nursing procedures may increase the risk of face seal leakage. Further research, including the development of prototype devices for better respirator fit, is necessary to improve respiratory protection of users.
AB - Background 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. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusions Body movements during nursing procedures may increase the risk of face seal leakage. Further research, including the development of prototype devices for better respirator fit, is necessary to improve respiratory protection of users.
KW - Mask fit
KW - N95 respirator
KW - Nursing
KW - Quantitative fit test
KW - Respiratory protection
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85019587627&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.03.028
DO - 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.03.028
M3 - Article
C2 - 28526306
AN - SCOPUS:85019587627
SN - 0196-6553
VL - 45
SP - 974
EP - 978
JO - American Journal of Infection Control
JF - American Journal of Infection Control
IS - 9
ER -
