Evaluation of ultraviolet-C decontamination of medical masks during the COVID-19 crisis

在COVID-19大流行期间，充足的个人防护装备（PPE）对于确保护士、医生和其他一线工作人员的安全至关重要。不幸的是，PPE供应链紧张，医护人员的N95口罩明显短缺。最近，对用过的个人防护设备进行消毒已成为维持医用口罩供应的一项有前途的战略。净化后的口罩可以重复使用，而不是将口罩视为一次性物品，这可能大大减少对新口罩的需求。紫外线照射由于其便携性和可扩展性，特别是对于小型和/或偏远医院，是一种很有前途的去污方法。我们将确定适合面罩去污的紫外线剂量和波长。这方面的知识将为工业界开发去污装置提供指导，并为政策制定者制定准则提供指导。

Adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical for ensuring the safety of nurses, doctors, and other frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, PPE supply chains are stretched, with a notable shortage of N95 masks for healthcare workers. Recently, decontamination of used PPE has emerged as a promising strategy for maintaining the supply of medical masks. Instead of treating masks as single-use items, decontaminated masks can be used repeatedly, potentially providing a substantial reduction in demand for new masks. Ultraviolet irradiation is a promising approach for decontamination due to its portability and scalability, particularly for small and/or remote hospitals. We will define the doses and wavelengths of ultraviolet light that are suitable for mask decontamination. This knowledge will provide guidance for development of decontamination devices by industry, and for the development guidelines by policy makers.