CDC Recommended Guidance for Extended Use and Limited Reuse of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Healthcare Settings
This document recommends practices for extended use and limited reuse of NIOSH-certified N95 filtering facepiece respirators (commonly called “N95 respirators”). The recommendations are intended for use by professionals who manage respiratory protection programs in healthcare institutions to protect health care workers from job-related risks of exposure to infectious respiratory illnesses.
SAGES N95 Mask Re-use Strategies
Personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic have precipitated a wave of creative solutions for repurposing of N95 masks. A growing influx of new information can make it difficult to discern best practices for mask re-use. Below we provide resources and tips on this topic. This page will be updated regularly as new information comes in.
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Note that based on manufacturer recommendations, N95 masks are designed for one-time use. The CDC and NIOSH do not formally recommend decontamination and re-use of N95 masks, but acknowledge that in times of scarcity, the strategies below are options that can be considered based on individual clinical judgment and the institutional resources available.
