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Evaluation of the Filtration Efficiency of the N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator for Airborne Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health. 20(4): 255-265. (doi: 10.13031/jash.20.10450) @2014
Authors:   Dwight D. Ferguson, Tara C. Smith, Kelley J. Donham, Patrick O’Shaughnessy
Keywords:   Airborne MRSA, Air sampling, Bioaerosol, Confined animal feeding operation, N95 filtering facepiece respirator, Swine, Zoonosis.

Abstract. Airborne methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected inside a swine facility that presented a risk of respiratory colonization and infection to swine and swine workers. Viable airborne MRSA was sampled using an Andersen cascade impactor, and total airborne particulates were sampled using an optical particle counter. The filter efficiency of the N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) was evaluated to determine its effectiveness for airborne MRSA. Our study showed that the filter for the N95 FFR had efficiency greater than 95% for airborne MRSA.

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