Arlington: A new study has provided guidance to increase the effectiveness of facial masks to reduce the spread of pathogens of respiratory infections including SARS-COV-2.
This research has been published in the ‘American Journal of Infection Control’.
Face masks are used to reduce the spread of infection viruses such as SARS-COV-2 which are transmitted through breathing aerosols and droplets produced during activities such as speaking, breathing and coughing.
US centers for controlling and prevention of disease (CDC) recommend a multi-layered mask, cover the nose and mouth and form a tight seal against the face.
“Performance of facial masks as a device that controls the spread of infection depends on the ability of mask material to filter aerosols and on how well the mask is suitable for users,” said Francoise M.
Blachere, MSc, biology research, from the National Institute for Safety and Occupational Health (Niosh ), and the main paper writer.
Blachere and colleagues use human subjects and manikin simulators to evaluate the performance of several types of masks, combinations, and modifications.
The researchers conducted various experiments that simulate cough and breathing and then measure the efficiency of the mask in blocking respiratory aerosols.
The results showed that coat a three-layer fabric mask on a medical mask (double masking) or securing a medical mask with elastic brace provides the best protection against the respiratory aerosol.
Medical masks without modification are blocked> 56 percent cough aerosols and> 42 percent of the aerosols are exhaled; Relative, placing a cloth mask on a blocked medical mask> = 85 percent aerosol cough and> = 91 percent of the aerosols that are exhaled, and add braces above the blocked medical masks> = 95 percent cough aerosols and> = = = 99 percent of the aerosol exhaled.
Using the ear loop switch or ear loop strap, or knitting and slipping masks, it also increases performance compared to medical masks without modification.
Two other mask-fit modifications, crossing the ear loop or placing a bracket under the mask, does not improve performance.
“Since the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic, there is considerable confusion about the use of the most effective facial masks, especially among the general public, to reduce the spread of infection,” said Ann Marie Pettis, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, and APIC President 2021 .
“the study findings NIOS is an important and timely because they identify practical combination of practical and modification of masks that can improve mask seal and thus reduce the expulsion of aerosol infection to the neighborhood,” Pettis concluded.