Evaluation of Universal Methicillin - Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Screening Using Nasal Polymerase Chain Reaction Compared with Nasal , Axilla , and Groin and Throat and Perianal Cultures in a Hospital Setting

P< .0001). Within the time frame of a typical patient care encounter (approximately 30 minutes), there was a <0.02 log10 reduction in virus at 40% RH, while there was a <0.1 logi0 reduction at 60% RH. Achieving a 4 log reduction of infectious virus on a mask surface would take 87 hours at 40% RH and 20 hours at 60% RH. Enveloped bacteriophage $6 can survive on the surface of an N95 respirator longer than a single patient care encounter. High levels of virus remaining on a respirator may pose a risk of virus transfer to the wearer during handling and reuse. The use of a bacteriophage provides a simple, low-cost method for evaluating survival and transfer risks; bacteriophages are already used as surrogates in studies of respirator decontamination. Bacteriophage $6 was inactivated somewhat more rapidly than H1N1 influenza on N95 surfaces at 60% RH (possibly as a result of the matrix used), and a similar trend of greater inactivation was observed at higher humidity levels. The results are similar to those found for transmissible gastroenteritis virus, a member of the coronavirus family, on respirator surfaces. This suggests that bacteriophage $ 6 is a potential surrogate for studies of human respiratory viruses on personal protective equipment.