A surgical mask, also known as a procedure mask, is intended to be worn by health professionals
during surgery and at other times to catch the bacteria shed in liquid droplets and aerosols
from the wearer's mouth and nose. Its first recorded use was by the French surgeon Paul
Berger during an 1897 operation in Paris. Surgical masks are also used by the general
public in heavily populated countries in East Asia to reduce the chance of spreading airborne
diseases. In Japan, it is common to wear a face mask whilst ill to avoid infecting others
in public settings. Surgical masks were widely used in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Toronto,
Canada during outbreaks of the SARS virus, during the 2007 bird flu pandemic in Japan,
and in the United States and Mexico City during the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak, also known as
the swine flu. It is also worn by people in dusty environments such as sanitation workers.
Surgical masks was also used in many countries to during flu pandemics such as the swine
flu pandemic in 2009/10, in higher risk environment, N95 or NIOSH masks maybe used in place of
surgical masks as they provide better protection due to their shape and securing straps.
Modern surgical masks are made from paper or other non-woven material, and should be
discarded after each use.
Design
The design of the surgical masks depends on the mode; usually the masks are 3 ply/3 layers.
This 3 ply material is made up from a melt blown placed between non-woven fabric, the
melt-blown material acts as the filter that stops microbes from entering or exiting the
mask. Most surgical masks feature pleats/folds commonly 3 pleated are used allowing the user
to expand the mask so it covers from the nose and under the chin. Currently there are 3
different ways to secure the masks. The most popular is the ear loop; this is where a string
like material is attached to the mask and placed behind the ears. The other methods
are the tie on and the head band. The tie on straps consist of four non-woven straps
that are tied behind the head and the elastic strap is similar to an elastic band that is
placed behind the head. Usage
Simple surgical masks protect wearers from being splashed in the mouth with body fluids
and to prevent transmission of body fluids from the medical professional to the patient.
They also remind wearers not to touch their mouth or nose, which could otherwise transfer
viruses and bacteria after having touched a contaminated surface. They can also reduce
the spread of infectious liquid droplets that are created when the wearer coughs or sneezes.
They are not designed to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne bacteria or viruses
particles. They will trap some particles but are much less effective than respirators,
which are designed for this purpose. Safety guidelines for healthcare workers recommend
the wearing of a face-fit tested respirator mask conforming to United States standard
NIOSH N95 or European standard EN 149 FFP3 in the vicinity of pandemic-flu patients,
to reduce the exposure of the wearer to potentially infectious aerosols and airborne liquid droplets.
CDC provides additional information on manufacturers' products, as well as the importance of correct
fitting of such masks. A printable factsheet has been designed for issue to those unaccustomed
to respirator use. In community settings, according to the U.
S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in its guidance regarding the 2009 swine flu
outbreak, the use of facemask must be coupled with other measures such as avoiding close
contact and maintaining good hand hygiene to reduce the risk of getting influenza.
Cotton and gauze masks are also available but they do not serve as surgical masks as
they do not offer adequate filtration of microbes. Some people wear these over a normal surgical
mask as they often feature patterns and designs that are more attractive and fashionable.
Cryptomeria japonica discharges a large amount of pollen in spring. To prevent allergic rhinitis
with the pollen of Cryptomeria japonica, the mask is multiused in Japan.
In Japan and Taiwan, it is common to see these masks worn as a show of consideration for
others and social responsibility. Developments
Several new masks are about to market new mask features. One feature is a no-strap design
that uses adhesive to secure the mask to the face, leaving no gaps. Another is a PIT mask
that is inserted up each nostril. The PIT mask is becoming more popular in western countries
as the mask is not visible unlike the standard mask.
Non health-related uses The mythological figure Kuchisake Onna is
commonly seen with a surgical mask to hide the scars on her mouth. Pop star Michael Jackson
often wore a surgical mask when in public to conceal his identity.
References