Sterilize and Reuse Mask

[NurseSugar]

My employer is handing out isolation masks (the yellow tie ones) at the beginning of our shift and collecting them at the end to "be sterilized and reused". We are being told that is being done nationwide, but my friends at other facilities locally and in other states have said they are not doing that. I asked how they sterilized them and how/if the integrity of the mask is affected. I have not received an answer. We also asking about makeup and perfumes that may get on the mask from each user. Please let me know if you are or are not doing this. Thanks!

[NurseSugar]

Again, this is not N95s.

LOL "kleenex with strings" xD ... apparently isolation masks are still preferred over the cloth mask, so they must have some sort of micron permeability rating. I wonder what it is compared to cotton or flannel. They do seem quite flimsy to me as well... And from what I recall they are only supposed to last 4 hours.

With the N95 resterilization -- those also are only supposed to last a specific amount of wear time. Does sterilizing them reset that? Are they still effective? Or just germ free? It would be nice to have answers since nurses are following orders and placed at risk based on decisions from those behind a desk.

Apparently my facility does not know how they are going to sterilize, but are collecting masks for later in case that technology becomes available. In the mean time, instead of just assigning us one to keep, we are getting a new one each shift. Hardly a conservation effort at this point.

[CampyCamp, RN]

1 hour ago, NurseSugar said:

Again, this is not N95s.

LOL "kleenex with strings" xD ... apparently isolation masks are still preferred over the cloth mask, so they must have some sort of micron permeability rating. I wonder what it is compared to cotton or flannel. They do seem quite flimsy to me as well... And from what I recall they are only supposed to last 4 hours.

This site has some ranking and rating of common materials https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/

[BlueShoes12, BSN, RN]

My hospital is apparently having staff in the ED rewear SURGICAL masks from shift to shift, to be stored in a brown paper bag with no mention of sterilization. They are to be worn until the mask is contaminated (isn't it if somebody coughs on it?), torn or visibly soiled.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

Sorry to be cynical but I'm looking at pics of nurses from Italy and China in head-to-toe hazmat gear. How are we protected in a yellow gown and ear loop mask?