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"New study in #JAMA Network Open: Testing the limits of #N95 fit through extensive re-donning and re-use in medical settings.
Deep dive: 🔥🔥🔥
Healthcare workers were given fit-tested N95 respirators (#masks). Here's what happened.
🔹Same N95 worn for 5 shifts
🔹Shifts typically 10 hrs
🔹Taken off and put back on (doffed/donned) typically 4 times per shift
🔹25% of workers re-donned 7+ times per shift!
🔹Stored in an air-tight bin between shifts (they should have been allowed air flow to dry out..)
🔹39% of users failed to pass a qualitative fit test after shift 1
🔹About 90% failed a fit test after re-use for 5 shifts (typically 20+ re-dons)
🔹Cup-style N95s outperformed others on re-use
🔹Repeat doffing/donning (taking off/putting on) per shift was associated with increased risk of fit failure
🔹Qualitative fit testing overestimates the chances of "bad fit" by 71%
"...suggest is the need for more research designed to maximize effectiveness. In other words, how do we help healthcare workers get a good fit even after re-donning?
To me, the answer is PRACTICE... Doff, don, fit-test, repeat. Learn to gain confidence in a fit. Learn where the gaps are. That's what I do. That's why I can go with confidence into just about any setting.
The study did not evaluate #elastomerics. They found cup-style N95s performed best. Anyone passing a fit-test initially in an elasto would have a very high success rate after extensive re-donning and re-use. If people can find an elasto that fits them well, it's often a wise choice.
The study also did not evaluate the fit of surgical or procedure masks. The reason was that none of these could pass fit-testing. They are not designed to protect against COVID. The focus should be on increasing N95 use in healthcare & taking practical steps to optimize benefit. "
I did the riskiest thing I have done in 3 years today especially given where
I let two people in my house to do an assessment for maintenance work that I had been pushing off for quite some time. It was do it now or lose the resource.
I asked them to wear head strap #N95. They did. They both had beards so the fit wasn't great.
I turned up the 5 HEPAs we own to full. Plus kept the furnance circulation (which has a central HEPA) running full.
I opened the windows throughout the house.
We both wore our GVS Elipse #P100#elastomerics in our own house the whole time.
I left the house empty for an hour post-vist: windows open & #HEPA cranked.
Then checked my #ARANET4 CO2 before re-entering to confirm the rate of decrease of CO2 over the hour to make sure I was getting good ACH.
Wow. Now I see what all the fuss is about. Just purchased a case of #n95#3M#aura respirators for the local mask distro, had been hearing folks simply raving about these in various chats, texts, etc., so I finally tried one on. These are really comfortable and seal really well compared with a half dozen other N95 brands I've tried, including my fave Benehal black.
Why for the love of aerosol physics do they not have these in Aura masks in black yet?!!
@justyourluck nice! I like that KF94 design. Haven't tried that particular brand but I like the trifold. Saw on TwitX that 3M Taiwan just released some blue & gold auras 😯
I have one of those Breathe99 quarter-profile #elastomerics and it looks sharp, makes an okay seal with enough fidgeting ... but it doesn't keep the seal if I interact (smile, frown, speak with emphasis, etc.) too much. It's good for shows, physical therapy, and indoor presentations, but it's not great for socializing.
I was at TJ's buying up some frozen meals. Busy week, can you tell? My rants are delayed!
Checker seems a little... off. So, I bought a bunch of boxes that were roughly 6" x 6" x 2". And then 2 that were more like 5" x 8" x 2". She double bags and then for some reason is having the hardest time fitting SQUARE boxes in a bag with square sides.
...
To the point where I already paid and walked around to... well, to figure out why I wasn't headed out the store... 1/
I'm telling you, this is the future. You can not tell me #LongCovid isn't affecting people, society, and the simplest of things, never mind the difficult. As a human race, we've handed over our cognitive function. Archaeologists will look back at these few years as when evolution turned back. #CovidIsNOTover Please #MaskUP#N95 or better #Elastomerics#Covid#CovidVax & #CovidBooster is not enough