Ultraviolet C Induced Skin Reaction from Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation of N95 Respirators During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Abstract

With the depletion of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID‐19 pandemic, methods for decontamination of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) are being implemented at institutions throughout the United States. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) involves administration of ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation to cause DNA damage to inactivate pathogens on surfaces including FFRs. With the widespread use of this technology may come unintended side effects. We present the case of a patient who developed a skin reaction following UVC exposure from a UVGI device.