A commercially-available UV surface disinfection system used for hospital room disinfection was characterized for use as a UV-inactivation system for N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) respirators. The output of light was initially characterized and assessed for its ability to penetrate through the individual N95 respirator layers. Following characterization, disinfection performance was tested using a range of model pathogens. In a series of experiments, coupons of respirator material were inoculated with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and influenza A virus. Inoculated coupons were then treated with UV light from a low-pressure UV disinfection system during specific treatment times. Microbial enumeration was performed pre- and post-UV treatment. It was found that respirator coupons inoculated with E. coli, influenza A, P. aeruginosa, B. cereus and G. stearothermophilus resulted in below detection counts when exposed to UV fluences between 410 to 2700 mJ cm⁻². In addition, UV light was unable to sufficiently penetrate all layers of respirator material, highlighting the importance of flipping respirators when exposing them to UV light. This work suggests that with further validation, UV light will be a promising touchless treatment option for frontline professionals who need to repurpose N95 respirators for subsequent use.

中文翻译：

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商用低压紫外线灯的特性，该杀菌灯是对N95过滤式面罩呼吸器（FFR）材料上常见的医院病原体进行消毒的消毒系统

用于医院病房消毒的商用紫外线表面消毒系统的特征是用作N95过滤式面罩呼吸器（FFR）呼吸器的紫外线灭活系统。最初对光的输出进行了表征，并评估了其穿过各个N95防毒面具层的能力。表征后，使用一系列模型病原体测试消毒性能。在一系列实验中，将呼吸材料的试样接种了大肠杆菌，金黄色葡萄球菌，嗜热嗜热地芽孢杆菌孢子，蜡状芽孢杆菌，铜绿假单胞菌和甲型流感病毒。然后在特定的处理时间内，用低压紫外线消毒系统发出的紫外线对接种的试样进行处理。在紫外线处理之前和之后进行微生物计数。已发现，当暴露于410至2700 mJ cm ^-2的紫外线通量时，接种大肠埃希氏菌，铜绿假单胞菌，铜绿假单胞菌，蜡状芽孢杆菌和嗜热脂肪芽孢杆菌的呼吸片会导致低于检测值。。另外，紫外线不能充分穿透呼吸器材料的所有层，突出了在将呼吸器暴露于紫外线下时翻转呼吸器的重要性。这项工作表明，通过进一步的验证，对于需要重新使用N95防毒面具以供后续使用的一线专业人员，紫外线将成为一种有希望的非接触式治疗选择。