TTUHSC Team Decontaminates PPE for Re-Use
Team Decon Works to Solve PPE Shortages
In its seemingly unstoppable march across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a constant shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is critical to protecting health care workers. To address the issue, PPE makers have ramped up production, authorities have tapped into the nation’s emergency stockpiles and manufacturers from other industries have retooled to make more ventilators and masks. Still, the shortages are ongoing.
One suggested way to reduce the stress COVID-19 has placed on the PPE supply chain is to extend the lifetime existing equipment. With that in mind, a team from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) has been studying a method that can decontaminate used PPE, especially N95 masks and face shields.
