Contingency reprocessing of single-use FFP respirators

Can FFP respirators be decontaminated in a steam sterilization cycle for reuse in situations of severe personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage? That question has been explored through collaboration between a world-leading respirator manufacturer, 3M, and a global leader in sterilization solutions, Belimed.

During the global shortage in the last months, the supply of FFP respirators in all regions of the world, including healthcare leaders like the USA, Germany, or the Netherlands, has been tight. Hospitals around the world are seeking options to provide respirators to their employees to help reduce their risk of exposure when working with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients.

Now, with the evaluation by 3M of steam decontamination of FFP respirators, specific programmed cycles of the Belimed Steam Sterilizer MST-H or MST-V were determined to be compatible with specific 3M respirator models.

Please check also 3M’s technical bulletin “Decontamination of 3M Filtering Facepiece Respirators, such as FFP Respirators, in the – Global Considerations”