Ecolab announced today that it received FDA emergency use authorization (EUA) for use of its Bioquell technology system on N95 masks.
St. Paul, Minn.-based Ecolab’s Bioquell BQ-50 and Bioquell ProteQ decontamination systems received the EUA so healthcare facilities can decontaminate N95 respirator masks on-site to help address shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bioquell technology uses a proprietary hydrogen peroxide vapor technology for respirator decontamination to help prevent hospital-acquired infections in critical care areas and to ensure pharmaceutical manufacturing cleanrooms remain sterile, according to a news release.
N95 masks can be decontaminated up to four times for reuse by healthcare professionals using the Bioquell technology, creating the hydrogen peroxide vapor that eliminates pathogens from exposed surfaces and provides a 99.9999% reduction of bioburden.
“As healthcare facilities continue to experience shortages of respirators amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases in the United States, and with large-scale vaccination on the horizon, the ability to reuse this essential personal protective equipment brings additional protection to frontline workers,” Ecolab executive VP & president of global healthcare & life sciences Elizabeth Simermeyer said in the release. “This emergency use authorization from the FDA gives healthcare facilities added flexibility to confidently deploy Bioquell technology to decontaminate respirators on-site.”
