Critical evaluation of some microbial contamination removal and inactivation methods for face masks

Reusable face masks are one major protective measure in droplet infection, even the efficiency has been discussed in aerosol distribution and wide use in population. In epidemic and especially in pandemic condition security of supply is compromised due high and sudden consumption of protective devices. When production and storages of masks are not sufficient, the option is that the masks are cleaned and disinfected typically by washing. During the recent COVID crisis has been raised question whether single-use respirators could be decontaminated as well. This is a critical view on some low-tech methods and their efficiency. Because of last resort option ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) encourage national public health authorities and groups studying such methods to share their results as soon as they become available. This paper is a report on studies of some simple decontamination effects and their efficiency.