Thinking green: modelling respirator reuse strategies to reduce cost and waste (original) (raw)

BMJ Open

Abstract

ObjectivesTo compare the impact of respirator extended use and reuse strategies with regard to cost and sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignCost analysis.SettingUSA.ParticipantsAll healthcare workers within the USA.InterventionsNot applicable.Main outcome measuresA model was developed to estimate usage, costs and waste incurred by several respirator usage strategies over the first 6 months of the pandemic in the USA. This model assumed universal masking of all healthcare workers. Estimates were taken from the literature, government databases and commercially available data from approved vendors.ResultsA new N95 respirator per patient encounter would require 7.41 billion respirators, cost 6.38billionandgenerate84.0millionkgofwasteintheUSAover6months.Onerespiratorperdayperhealthcareworkerwouldrequire3.29billionrespirators,cost6.38 billion and generate 84.0 million kg of waste in the USA over 6 months. One respirator per day per healthcare worker would require 3.29 billion respirators, cost 6.38billionandgenerate84.0millionkgofwasteintheUSAover6months.Onerespiratorperdayperhealthcareworkerwouldrequire3.29billionrespirators,cost2.83 billion and generate 37.22 million kg of waste. Decontamination by ultraviolet germicidal irradiation would requ...

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