MetroHealth Can Sterilize Up to 50,000 Masks a Day
CLEVELAND – The MetroHealth System has begun sterilizing N95 or KN95 masks using a system developed by Bioquell available to MetroHealth as Ohio’s only Ebola treatment center since 2015.
“Our capacity to reprocess is approximately 50,000 masks a day,” said MetroHealth President and CEO Akram Boutros, MD. “This will address any potential shortages of these masks and allow us to provide masks to all our employees.”
MetroHealth is preparing for the restart of screenings and preventive care that is vital to the health and wellness of our patients, while also limiting the spread of the coronavirus.
This FDA-approved process was originally developed to disinfect areas contaminated by anthrax. It uses concentrated hydrogen peroxide that is aerosolized and kills 99.99999% of all pathogens.
Used masks are hung on racks and the room is sealed as the masks are sterilized. The process takes about two hours.
MetroHealth’s Infection Prevention team is experienced in using the technology and have established protocols for sterilizing hospital rooms and ambulances used in the care of highly contagious patients with diseases such as Ebola, anthrax and SARS-CoV-2.
Founded in 1837, MetroHealth is leading the way to a healthier you and a healthier community through service, teaching, discovery, and teamwork. Cuyahoga County’s public, safety-net hospital system, MetroHealth meets people where they are, providing care through five hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers. Each day, our nearly 9,000 employees focus on providing our community with equitable healthcare — through patient-focused research, access to care, and support services — that seeks to eradicate health disparities rooted in systematic barriers. For more information, visit metrohealth.org.
