Would you push for Respirators?

[ethilo]

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Hey folks
This is a question for folks familiar with respirators. I'm an associate in a 45ish person md only group in Washington, PPE is getting low. However, our covid point person acquired 2000 n95 masks (the white disposable ones) and our current plan is to practice reuse strategy with these.

at the same time, through many different donations and purchases, I was able to acquire enough reuseable half-face respirators, like the ones in woodworking or industrial painting, such that every one in the group is able to have their own personal respirator with plenty of n95 cartridges that would last the entire season.

I told the point person that I have these respirators but he has insisted that we keep the mask strategy. I wonder if he has never worn a respirator and seen how much more awesome they are than the masks. He also vaguely mentioned a "political" element to it. Not sure what that could be.

If you had the option between reusing n95 surgical masks and respirators for the whole group, what would you opt for?

this is for all noncovid patients. For covid we would default to paprs by hospital policy

 

[GravelRider]

Hey folks
This is a question for folks familiar with respirators. I'm an associate in a 45ish person md only group in Washington, PPE is getting low. However, our covid point person acquired 2000 n95 masks (the white disposable ones) and our current plan is to practice reuse strategy with these.

at the same time, through many different donations and purchases, I was able to acquire enough reuseable half-face respirators, like the ones in woodworking or industrial painting, such that every one in the group is able to have their own personal respirator with plenty of n95 cartridges that would last the entire season.

I told the point person that I have these respirators but he has insisted that we keep the mask strategy. I wonder if he has never worn a respirator and seen how much more awesome they are than the masks. He also vaguely mentioned a "political" element to it. Not sure what that could be.

If you had the option between reusing n95 surgical masks and respirators for the whole group, what would you opt for?

this is for all noncovid patients. For covid we would default to paprs by hospital policy

I do some woodworking and I have a half face respirator that I am thinking about using. They are way more comfortable and functional than the n95 masks at hospitals...and easier to breathe through. You essentially end up looking like Walter White getting ready to cook up some meth, which is what the “political” element may be.

 

[kidthor]

I have a P100 respirator with replaceable filters - supposedly a P100 keeps out 99.8% of particles and is oil proof - vs an N95 which is 95% and not oil proof...

Most respirators have an expiratory values so they let stuff out (vs an N95 which I think usually keeps everything in - making it impossible to breathe).

IMO a P100 or similar is going to protect the wearer as well as (if not better) than an N95. So when it comes to it I'll take my P100 over a bandana.

 

[IMGASMD]

Yes. No one cares about politics when they’re dead!

 

[venacontracta]

the politics may be that others in the vicinity (like the RN) may feel they are underprotected if they are using an N95 and you're using a badass respirator?

 

[deleted171991]

the politics may be that others in the vicinity (like the RN) may feel they are underprotected if they are using an N95 and you're using a badass respirator?

The more underprotected they feel, the safer all of us will be. 😉

 

[fittipaldi1of1]

Do you think your hospital will allow these half face respirators in the OR? It’s a sterile field and I don’t think these masks “filter” the exhaled breath.. I guess PAPRs aren’t allowed in ORs

I personally think it’s a great idea and ordered one

 

[jqueb29]

I've got a respirator and have been using it. It's much more comfortable and looks baller. Nobody has tried to tell me I can't wear it, nor would I give a damn about their opinion if they did.

 

[ethilo]

Do you think your hospital will allow these half face respirators in the OR? It’s a sterile field and I don’t think these masks “filter” the exhaled breath.. I guess PAPRs aren’t allowed in ORs

I personally think it’s a great idea and ordered one

The exhalation valve will probably filter about the same amount as what a standard surgical mask would filter, as in... nothing. The respirator would certainly cover up droplets if you coughed.

 

[Cheddar]

The 3M package inserts state that they are not recommended for sterile fields as they do not filter exhaled breaths. Infected healthcare workers might spread virus when compared to n95 masks without the expiratory valve.

Not really a concern when woodworking or painting, but in healthcare that is an important consideration if the regular masks without that valve are still available.


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[Crash44]

How would you go about cleaning them? Would the purple top Sani-cloth (what they are recommending for the PAPRs) work?

 

[ethilo]

How would you go about cleaning them? Would the purple top Sani-cloth (what they are recommending for the PAPRs) work?

That's what I would do. At least you can clean them unlike the disposable masks.

 

[CardioDad]

Duplicate post from another thread, hoping to get this in front of more eyeballs.

Watch the video embedded in this article regarding Duke Hosp successfully sanitizing N95s with 4 hours of exposure to 30% hydrogen peroxide mist!


https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/duke-health-finds-way-to-sterilize-reuse-masks-needed-during-pandemic/19031056/

 

[Justice4all]

We are implementing this approach at my children hospital.

 

[fittipaldi1of1]

Why not just buy an elastomeric respirator? The filters are superior (100% filtered) vs n95 (95%). They are meant to be cleaned and reused..

How reliable could an n95 really be after taking it on and off? Bending the metal strip everyday and exposing it to chemicals?

 

[nimbus]

I was thinking EVERYBODY could get a PAPR helmet and a decontamination shower for their home, and then we could go on with our lives. Everybody can be bubble boy until we get an effective vaccine.

 

[pjl]

I was thinking EVERYBODY could get a PAPR helmet and a decontamination shower for their home, and then we could go on with our lives. Everybody can be bubble boy until we get an effective vaccine.

I just got a full face respirator for myself (and my coworkers) rather than a PAPR. Way more cost effective and far easier to get the disposables.
It was getting annoying having to justify n95 to some nurse before they would hand out.

 

[GravelRider]

I just got a full face respirator for myself (and my coworkers) rather than a PAPR. Way more cost effective and far easier to get the disposables.
It was getting annoying having to justify n95 to some nurse before they would hand out.

I am using a half face respirator with some goggles. If you get the plastic P100 cartridges you can wipe them down with an alcohol swab afterwards. Way more comfortable and effective than some reused N95 that I am told to store in a paper bag.

 

[fittipaldi1of1]

I am using a half face respirator with some goggles. If you get the plastic P100 cartridges you can wipe them down with an alcohol swab afterwards. Way more comfortable and effective than some reused N95 that I am told to store in a paper bag.

Are you wearing it in the OR? Anyone giving you grief?
I just don’t want to get blamed for a surgical site infection since it’s not technically approved for a sterile environment

 

[GravelRider]

Are you wearing it in the OR? Anyone giving you grief?
I just don’t want to get blamed for a surgical site infection since it’s not technically approved for a sterile environment

I haven’t had a known or suspected covid patient in the OR yet. So far I’ve been doing N95 with surgical mask over it in the OR. I suspect I will be wearing it in the OR in the near future. If they want me to tie a surgical mask around the exhalation valve, I’ll be happy to comply with that.

I have let every single person know that the moment I feel uncomfortable with PPE, is the moment I turn around and hide in my basement. I will never be wearing garbage bags due to the lack of PPE.

 

[fittipaldi1of1]

I haven’t had a known or suspected covid patient in the OR yet. So far I’ve been doing N95 with surgical mask over it in the OR. I suspect I will be wearing it in the OR in the near future. If they want me to tie a surgical mask around the exhalation valve, I’ll be happy to comply with that.

I have let every single person know that the moment I feel uncomfortable with PPE, is the moment I turn around and hide in my basement. I will never be wearing garbage bags due to the lack of PPE.

i was thinking the same thing, tying a surgical mask over the expiration valve

 

[pjl]

I haven’t had a known or suspected covid patient in the OR yet. So far I’ve been doing N95 with surgical mask over it in the OR. I suspect I will be wearing it in the OR in the near future. If they want me to tie a surgical mask around the exhalation valve, I’ll be happy to comply with that.

I have let every single person know that the moment I feel uncomfortable with PPE, is the moment I turn around and hide in my basement. I will never be wearing garbage bags due to the lack of PPE.

Half faces are fine, but I think go full if you get one. Perfect eye protection.

 

[Shimmy8]

Which respirators are you all buying?

 

[fittipaldi1of1]

Get whatever you can find, medium fits 80% of people. I bought a full face mask for the eye protection (3m 6800). Honeywell makes masks too.

 

[Jesus1]

Get whatever you can find, medium fits 80% of people. I bought a full face mask for the eye protection (3m 6800). Honeywell makes masks too.

Bought the honeywell 780006A model (full face respirator). Do I need separate filters and cartridges or is one already provided?

 

[fittipaldi1of1]

Bought the honeywell 780006A model (full face respirator). Do I need separate filters and cartridges or is one already provided?

My 3m came with a p95 filter which I will not be using. I bought a few p100 filters since they provide better filtration.

idk if yours comes with any, but I’d prob buy an extra filter while your waiting for your mask Incase it doesn’t

 

[ethilo]

Thanks for the advice, I'm afraid I'll get a bunch of funny looks and grief from others around me if I go rogue and bring in my own elastomeric respirator. Maybe I'll take it to Occupational Health and ask them if it's cool if I use it, then do a fit test with it so it sort of legitimizes it.

 

[GravelRider]

Thanks for the advice, I'm afraid I'll get a bunch of funny looks and grief from others around me if I go rogue and bring in my own elastomeric respirator. Maybe I'll take it to Occupational Health and ask them if it's cool if I use it, then do a fit test with it so it sort of legitimizes it.

Funny looks or severe ARDS? I’ll take funny looks.

 

[pjl]

Funny looks or severe ARDS? I’ll take funny looks.

Our department just said we are doing it, and anyone that wants to argue can stand next to us in reused N95s while we intubate.

 

[propofol1]

Get whatever you can find, medium fits 80% of people. I bought a full face mask for the eye protection (3m 6800). Honeywell makes masks too.

Just bought the 3m 6800. It didn’t come with any filters so I ordered the p100 filters. It did not come with any cartridges either. Do I need a cartridge to put the pink p100 filter in? Or do you not need a cartridge?

 

[pjl]

Just bought the 3m 6800. It didn’t come with any filters so I ordered the p100 filters. It did not come with any cartridges either. Do I need a cartridge to put the pink p100 filter in? Or do you not need a cartridge?

Depends which ones you got. The cartridge will keep it clean, so would go that route. There is a version that pops on without, but it would be at high soiling risk with no ability to clean.

 

[propofol1]

Depends which ones you got. The cartridge will keep it clean, so would go that route. There is a version that pops on without, but it would be at high soiling risk with no ability to clean.

Ok that’s what I was thinking. I need to figure out what cartridges to buy. The ones I’m seeing that are available all day organic vapor cartridges which I’m guessing aren’t the correct ones for the P100 filters

 

[pjl]

Ok that’s what I was thinking. I need to figure out what cartridges to buy. The ones I’m seeing that are available all day organic vapor cartridges which I’m guessing aren’t the correct ones for the P100 filters

It is highly dependent on what you have. Most of the filters are 2 parts, one particulate filter (the P100 or whatever) and the charcoal or whatever filter which you don’t care much about, but is a piece to make the set.

 

[fittipaldi1of1]

There are several. The “best” is a 7093 cuz it has three hard sides so can be wiped down. The cheapest is the pink circular pancake looking one (2091 or 2097? I think) these are just as efficient but you can’t wipe them down so u just have to treat them as dirty and don’t touch it but you can keep using them. The 2091s don’t have to be attached to anything else, just right onto the mask

 

[marr65]

Just bought the 3m 6800. It didn’t come with any filters so I ordered the p100 filters. It did not come with any cartridges either. Do I need a cartridge to put the pink p100 filter in? Or do you not need a cartridge?

Where did you order it from?

 

[propofol1]

Where did you order it from?

Ordered everything on EBay because everyone else online says out of stock. Only have the face mask so far and is looks legitimate and came in a 3m box. Just bought the cartridges on EBay as well.

 

[GravelRider]

Just bought the 3m 6800. It didn’t come with any filters so I ordered the p100 filters. It did not come with any cartridges either. Do I need a cartridge to put the pink p100 filter in? Or do you not need a cartridge?

One possible solution to the P100 filters that are not part of a plastic cartridge is to tie a mask or some kind of barrier around them to prevent them from getting soiled. The plastic cartridges all have extra filtration protection against solvents and chemicals that we are not really in contact with. All we really care about is the P100 particulate protection.

 

[marr65]

Anyone buying a PAPR? The same one hospitals have. It’s 900 bucks, worth it?

 

[pjl]

Anyone buying a PAPR? The same one hospitals have. It’s 900 bucks, worth it?

If I could find them, I would buy a few to share among my group. The disposable parts are needed too.

The hospital has some, but not enough.


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[marr65]

If I could find them, I would buy a few to share among my group. The disposable parts are needed too.

The hospital has some, but not enough.


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Search for PAPR. I think they are available to buy, not sure of delivery date. I’m not in a hard hit Covid area, so I’m hesitating to buy since it’s so expensive.

 

[Mad Jack]

Duplicate post from another thread, hoping to get this in front of more eyeballs.

Watch the video embedded in this article regarding Duke Hosp successfully sanitizing N95s with 4 hours of exposure to 30% hydrogen peroxide mist!


https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/duke-health-finds-way-to-sterilize-reuse-masks-needed-during-pandemic/19031056/

The problem is less the sanitizing and more the deteriorating fit over time

 

[Mad Jack]

Which respirators are you all buying?

I use a P100 Elipse by GVS. Wayyyy more comfortable than a disposable, far less suffocating, and better filtration to boot

 

[deleted162650]

Thought this might help some of you guys out that are struggling to secure adequate amounts of PPE:

 

[Laradd]

Yes this should be implemented.