Inter-Surface Contamination of Utilized N95 Masks in Healthcare Workers of an Intensive Care Unit of in Iran during Covid-19 Outbreak

Healthcare workers in the hospitals are in front line of contact with SARS-CoV-2. Then protection of healthcare workers is a critical point for maintenance of public health. Since correct use of mask and leakage of virus from the sides into the mask play an important role for mask efficiency, in this study inner surface of N95 mask with SARS-COV-2 was evaluated.

The inner surface of N95 (JSP 822ML model) masks in the health workers of an intensive care unit from Tehran for SARS-COV-2 contamination was determined. Ethics was emphasized by research license receiving, health and safety caring.SARS-COV-2 test was presented negative in studied subjects based on the heath records. All of samples was evaluated after a shift work use of mask by a sterile swab. The RNA of SARS-CoV-2 in samples was surveyed based on the real time reverse transcription-PCR.

Studied intensive care unit was contaminated by eleven confirmed COVID-19. All of health workers performed health hygiene protocols and used N95 mask in a shift (12 hours) continuously. Health workers monitor patients in the distance lower than o.5 m. However, all of swab samples from inner surface of used N95 face mask were presented negative results for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Due to the negative SARS-COV-2 test in subjects and results of virus detection in inner surface of masks, there are not considerable leakages into the masks. Personal protective equipment is the last suggestion in the occupational safety, continuous and correct use of N95 mask has been recommended as the most important part of health protocol for respiratory protecting against SARS-COV-2. Moreover, training of health care workers for correct use of protective mask has been recommended.