Face Mask

A Face mask devices that may help prevent the spread of germs (viruses and bacteria) from one person to another. They are one part of an infection-control strategy that should also include frequent hand washing and social distancing.

Facemasks should not be shared. Facemasks and respirators may become contaminated with germs (viruses and bacteria) that can be spread between people.

The term "facemasks" refers to disposable facemasks cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as medical devices. This includes facemasks labeled as surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation, or laser masks.

A facemask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. Facemasks may be labeled as surgical, laser, isolation, dental or medical procedure masks. They may come with or without a face shield.

Facemasks are made in different thicknesses and with different ability to protect you from contact with liquids. These properties may also affect how easily you can breathe through the facemask and how well the facemask protects you.

If worn properly, a facemask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria) from reaching your mouth and nose. Facemasks may also help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others.

While a facemask may be effective in blocking splashes and large-particle droplets, a facemask, by design, does not filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs, sneezes or certain medical procedures.

Facemasks also do not provide complete protection from germs and other contaminants because of the loose fit between the surface of the facemask and your face.

Facemasks are not intended to be used more than once. If your mask is damaged or soiled, or if breathing through the mask becomes difficult, you should remove the facemask, discard it safely, and replace it with a new one. To safely discard your mask, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used mask.

Patient Protection

A medical face mask prevents splashes and droplets from the wearer from infecting his patient. If a doctor, dentist or surgeon coughs or sneezes during a procedure, the mask can keep the germs from hitting a patient who may be susceptible to sickness.

Caregiver Protection

A medical face mask can also be used to protect a medical practitioner from contagious disease, by preventing blood and bodily fluids from contacting the wearer's face. Medical face masks are often used in this way to prevent the spread of the flu. For uses of personal protection when treating highly contagious patients, the medical practitioner will more often wear a respirator, which is better able to protect against very small particles in the air.

Particle Inhalation

While face masks can help prevent the spread of blood borne pathogens, they have not been proven effective against the inhalation of small particles and aerosols that contain viruses according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Though respirators are better suited for protecting against small particles, they still are not guaranteed to prevent diseases such as influenza.

Effects Based on Usage

Though the medical benefits of face masks are not conclusive, results are better when masks are used properly. The mask should be worn over the mouth and nose and must be worn consistently in conditions that could spread disease. After a mask has been used once, it should be discarded.

Surgical face mask provides disposable protection

againts inhaled particles. They are available with a latex free earloop

or tie-on variants.

Three-ply design protects againts moisture from the outside and

protects againts 95% of dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, and other

airborne particles.

Form-fit deisgns help mask fit countours of the face more securely

and comfortably.

Mask design allows more breathing freedom and comfort.

Soft, latex-free earloop for extra comfort during ling wearing periods.

Available in three-pleat fold, bidirectional, or ducbill styles.

Also available in pink, green, white and blue.

What Does A Medical Mask Do?

Medical or surgical masks may protect wearers form particles, fluid release, and other debris, they help reduce the chance of spreading airborne diseases. During flu season, many choose to wear them to avoid infecting others or being infected. Typically, these masks are less effective than N95 respirators, they do not protect the from inhaling airborne bacteria or virus particles.

What is the Difference Between a Medical Mask and an N95 Respirator?

Medical or surgical masks are designed to protect medical professionals from debris, fluids, particles that could possibly contaminate sterile fields. They also protect clinicians and patients from possible pathogen exposure and are effective against droplet transmission. Depending on the size of the pathogen, these masks are less effective with airborne bacteria or viruses. Respirators usually provide a tight seal that forces the air through filters. They offer the best protection for medical professionals dealing with patients with respiratory illnesses and patients classified as “high exposure risk.”

How Long Can You Wear A Disposable Face Mask For?

Medical masks can be worn up to 8 hours but mut be dispossed of if contaminated with fluid.

What Is An N95 Mask?

An N95 respirator filtrates airborne particles efficiently. This protective respiratory device fits very close to the face, forcing the air through filters.

Types of different Masks & their Efficacies

In this era of Corona panic and fear, there are lot of confusions and misconceptions existing regarding the use of mask, not only amongst the laypersons but also among the health care providers.

On one hand masks are not available for the risk group while on other hand, who are not at risk, spending unnecessary money and energy to procure these masks.

Hope this questionnaire would improve the understanding about the various types of commonly used masks and clarify the proper indications of use.

Q1 ... What are the common types of masks

Ans...

1 Cloth mask

2 Surgical mask

Q2... What are the Respirators

Ans.

N- 95

N- 99

N- 100

are the respirators

Q3.. what is the difference between mask and respirator

Ans..

Mask has loose fit, it doesn't seal nose and mouth snugly.

During respiration air moves along the edges of the mask, while respirator has tight seal and most of the times air passes only through its material after filtration.

Q4... Are all respirator masks are same

Ans...

No, respirators are graded according to their filtration efficiency.

According to the used filter type

According to the type of materials used

And additional features

They are of different types.

Q5... what is the efficiency grading

Ans...

According to the efficiency of filtration these are usually graded as-

95, 99 and 100

Means these respirator masks are capable of traping 95%, 99% and 99.9% of particles, smaller up to the 0.3 micron size.

This grading can also be done as

P1 (FFP1) - 80%

P2 (FFP2) - 95%

P3 (FFP3) - 99.95%

Filtration efficiency.

Q.6.. what is the N,R or P meaning written over mask

Ans...

N - not oil proof

R- oil resistant

P- oil proof

(Eg. N 95 is not oil proof).

Q7. Few repirator masks have valve, what is that.

Ans..

That valve is nothing but a simple exhalation port with one way valve mechanism, it reduces effort of expiration, reduce heat inside the mask, dissipate humidity and reduce co2 the amount of from the dead space of mask.

Q.8.. When to use surgical masks.

Ans... Surgical mask or procedure mask is the most common mask used by health workers.

It is not designed to protect wearer from inhaling the air born bacteria and viruses.

It is used to block only large particle droplets, splashes, sprays or splatter.

It also reduce the exposure of wearer's saliva and respiratory secretions to others. Surgical mask also remind wearer not to touch their mouth/nose which could otherwise transfer virus/bacteria after having touched a contaminated surface.

Q9... what is the filtration capacity of surgical mask

Ans... It can vary between 10-90% according to the manufacturer.

Q..10.. how one can assure about the quality of mask

Ans..

Mask should be certified by the

NIOSH (National institute for occupational safety and health)

NPPTL (National personal protective technology laboratory)

Q.11... Does cloth mask effective?

Ans.

Cloth is a wooven material thus pore size is bigger than surgical mask which is made up of non wooven polypropylene material thus cloth mask is less effective than surgical mask in terms of filtration efficiency.

Q..12 ... Does extra layer improve efficacy of cloth mask

Ans.. No, it's not advisable. Each extra layer adds only 2% of extra protection on the cost of comfort .

Q.13... Can surgical/cloth mask be used routinely

Ans.

Yes these can be used routinely.

Few studies done on normal population concluded that the use of simple mask can decrease the incidence of flu up to 75%.

Few east asian countries following this practice of routine use of mask.

Q.14.. Can mask be reused?

Ans. -Cloth mask can be reused after washing

- Surgical mask should be discarded after single use or after soiled

- Respirator mask should be discarded when resistance of breathing get increased or get solied.

Viruses/bacterias can grow and flourish inside the reused mask.

Q..15.. what are the WHO recommendations for using masks?

Ans...

- For the normal population, any type of mask is not required, maintaining the social distance and hand hygiene are the sufficient.

- Sick person should wear surgical mask

- Any person who is taking care of sick person should also wear the surgical mask.

- N 95 mask should be used by the person who is potential to get expose with the respiratory secretions of the infected patient eg. During the Endotracheal intubation, CPR, Ventilation, Bronchoscopy, Endoscopy and Tracheostomy etc.

Stay safe...