Exploring inactivation of SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, Ebola, Lassa, and Nipah viruses on N95 and KN95 respirator material using photoactivated methylene blue to enable reuse

Authors

Florine E. Scholte, Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Kareem B. Kabra, Global Health Department, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Sarah R. Tritsch, Global Health Department, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Joel M. Montgomery, Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Christina F. Spiropoulou, Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Christopher N. Mores, Global Health Department, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Brian H. Harcourt, Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Electronic address: beh0@cdc.gov.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-1-2022

Journal

American journal of infection control

Volume

50

Issue

8

DOI

10.1016/j.ajic.2022.02.016

Keywords

COVID-19; Decontamination; Hemorrhagic fever virus; Methylene blue; N95 respirator; Photochemical inactivation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a worldwide shortage of N95 respirators, prompting the development of decontamination methods to enable limited reuse. Countries lacking reliable supply chains would also benefit from the ability to safely reuse PPE. Methylene blue (MB) is a light-activated dye with demonstrated antimicrobial activity used to sterilize blood plasma. Decontamination of respirators using photoactivated MB requires no specialized equipment, making it attractive for use in the field during outbreaks. METHODS: We examined decontamination of N95 and KN95 respirators using photoactivated MB and 3 variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19; and 4 World Health Organization priority pathogens: Ebola virus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Nipah virus, and Lassa virus. Virus inactivation by pretreating respirator material was also tested. RESULTS: Photoactivated MB inactivated all tested viruses on respirator material, albeit with varying efficiency. Virus applied to respirator material pre-treated with MB was also inactivated, thus MB pretreatment may potentially protect respirator wearers from virus exposure in real-time. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that photoactivated MB represents a cost-effective, rapid, and widely deployable method to decontaminate N95 respirators for reuse during supply shortages.

APA Citation

Scholte, Florine E.; Kabra, Kareem B.; Tritsch, Sarah R.; Montgomery, Joel M.; Spiropoulou, Christina F.; Mores, Christopher N.; and Harcourt, Brian H., "Exploring inactivation of SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, Ebola, Lassa, and Nipah viruses on N95 and KN95 respirator material using photoactivated methylene blue to enable reuse" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1535.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1535

Department

Global Health