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Decontamination of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) is a crisis capacity strategy allowed when there are known shortages of FFRs. The application of moist heat is one decontamination method that has shown promise and is the approach approved in the Steris Steam Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This effort examines the use of multicookers to apply moist heat, as they are available in retail stores and more affordable than methods requiring more sophisticated equipment. Four of five multicooker models examined met the acceptance criteria for the test and one model was selected for inactivation testing. Tests were performed on four different FFR models with SARS‐CoV‐2 suspended in culture media, simulated saliva or simulated lung fluid. Moist heat treatment reduced recoverable titres of SARS‐CoV‐2 virus to levels below the limit of detection in all tests. Furthermore, these four FFR models showed no loss in collection efficiency, inhalation resistance or visual damage after up to 10 decontamination cycles. Two (2) FFR models showed a slight change in strap elasticity (, Significance and Impact of the Study: The potential to decontaminate N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) contaminated with SARS‐CoV‐2 in culture media, simulated saliva and simulated lung fluid using moist heat in a multicooker is demonstrated. Furthermore, the FFR models tested did not show degradation of performance when subjected to at most 10 decontamination cycles. This approach represents a low‐cost and simple FFR decontamination method that could be considered for use when shortages exist during an emergency, such as the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic.

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that opioid overdose deaths (including fentanyl and carfentanil) comprised 46,802 (69%) of the 67,367 total drug overdose deaths. The opioid overdose epidemic affects Americans not only at home but also in the workplace. First responders may be at risk of opioid exposure during incidents such as vehicle searches and responses to overdose calls. To reduce direct exposure to opioids and other hazardous drugs, first responders rely in part on personal protective equipment (PPE) as their last line of defense. First responders seek guidance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) regarding appropriate PPE selection for potential opioid exposure. There is limited empirical glove performance data for illicit drugs. Empirical data are needed to validate NIOSH’s current recommendations regarding gloves to help prevent exposure to illicit drugs (i.e., powder-free nitrile gloves with a minimum thickness of 5 ± 2 mil [0.127 ± 0.051 millimeters]); however, no industry standard or test method currently exists for specifically evaluating PPE performance against fentanyl and its analogs. To understand the permeation qualities of gloves when challenged against fentanyl and carfentanil solutions, the ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials) ASTM D6978–19 standard for chemotherapy drug glove permeation was adapted to test fentanyl and carfentanil hydrochloride solution permeation through twelve disposable glove models, including five models in which the manufacturers claim fentanyl protection. No nitrile glove models showed fentanyl or carfentanil permeation rates above the chemotherapy drug threshold criterion of 0.01 μg/cm(2)/min (i.e., thereby meeting the performance requirement) as calculated using the ASTM D6978–19 standard within the 240-min test. Latex and vinyl glove materials exhibited fentanyl and carfentanil permeation with permeation rates above this threshold. These findings are among the first empirical data to support NIOSH’s current opioid glove recommendations and define procedures that could be used to support industry standards for evaluating opioid permeation through air-impermeable PPE materials.