| | Since the COVID-19 public health emergency was declared over a year ago, access to personal protective equipment (PPE), for health care personnel has been a significant challenge. In particular, the supply chain for respirators, which are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when they meet the definition of a device, has been heavily stressed as health care personnel and health systems have fought to secure these critical devices. The respirator type most commonly used in a health care setting is the disposable, N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR), which is designed to achieve a very close facial fit and provide efficient filtration of airborne particles. Elastomeric respirators, which provide similar protection to other FFRs and are also approved by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), may also be used in health care settings. Given that elastomeric respirators are designed to be reusable, they can help to protect health care personnel in our hospitals and doctor's offices in times of reduced disposable N95 supply. In particular, this type of respirator can play a critical role in the nation's response to COVID-19 and bolster future readiness for similar outbreaks and public health emergencies. | | | |
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