The emergence of COVID-19 swept through the nations, and measures to prevent transmission of infection became the focus for all health care organizations internationally. With the increase in number of cases, the unanticipated consumption of personal protective equipment exceeded the capacity. With the scarcity of masks, the type, use, and reuse became a topic of debate. This article explores the origin, types, and the challenges nurses face regarding the use of masks.
BeckM., AntleB. J., BerlinD., GrangerM., MeighanK., NeilsonB. J., ShamaW., WestlandJ., & KaufmanM. (2004). Wearing masks in a pediatric hospital. Developing practical guidelines. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 95(4), 256–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405126
6.
BensonS. M., NovakD. A., & OggM. J. (2013). Proper use of surgical N95 respirators and surgical masks in the OR. AORN Journal, 97(4), 457–470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2013.01.015
ChughtaiA. A., SealeH., & MacIntyreC. R. (2013). Use of cloth masks in the practice of infection control—Evidence and policy gaps. International Journal of Infection Control, 9(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3396/IJIC.v9i3.020.13
13.
ChughtaiA. A., Stelzer-BraidS., RawlinsonW., PontivivoG., WangQ., PanY., ZhangD., ZhangY., LiL., & MacIntyreC. R. (2019). Contamination by respiratory viruses on outer surface of medical masks used by hospital healthcare workers. BMC Infectious Diseases, 19(1), 491. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-4109-x
GraltonJ., & McLawsM.-L. (2010). Protecting healthcare workers from pandemic influenza: N95 or surgical masks?Critical Care Medicine, 38(2), 657–667. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181b9e8b3
21.
GreenhalghT., SchmidM. B., CzypionkaT., BasslerD., & GruerL. (2020). Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis. BMJ, 369, m1435. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1435
HowardR. A., LathropG. W., & PowellN. (2020). Sterile field contamination from powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) versus contamination from surgical masks. American Journal of Infection Control, 48(2), 153–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2019.08.009
JeffersonT.,DelMarC, B.,DooleyL., . (2011). Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.,CD006207.
26.
JohnsonA. T. (2016). Respirator masks protect health but impact performance: A review. Journal of Biological Engineering, 10(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-016-0025-4
27.
KhazeniN., HuttonD., GarberA., & OwensD. (2009). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of surgical masks and N-95 respirators for the next influenza pandemic. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 179, A1636. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2009.179.1_MeetingAbstracts.A1636
28.
LongY., HuT., LiuL., ChenR., GuoQ., YangL., … DuL. (2020). Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks against influenza: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/jebm.12381
29.
MacIntyreC. R., SealeH., DungT. C., HienN. T., NgaP. T., ChughtaiA. A., RahmanB., DwyerD. E., & WangQ. (2015). A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers. BMJ Open, 5(4), –e006577. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006577
30.
MukerjiS., MacIntyreC. R., SealeH., WangQ., YangP., WangX., & NewallA. T. (2017). Cost-effectiveness analysis of N95 respirators and medical masks to protect healthcare workers in China from respiratory infections. BMC Infectious Diseases, 17(1), 464. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-017-2564-9
31.
NadeauK. (2020). Keeping on the cutting edge. Healthcare Purchasing News, 22.
OffedduV., YungC. F., LowM. S. F., & TamC. C. (2017). Effectiveness of Masks and Respirators Against Respiratory Infections in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 65(11),1934–1942. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix681
PatelR. B., SkariaS. D., MansourM. M., & SmaldoneG. C. (2016). Respiratory source control using a surgical mask: An in vitro study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 13(7), 569–576. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2015.1043050
RebmannT., CarricoR., & WangJ. (2013). Physiologic and other effects and compliance with long-term respirator use among medical intensive care unit nurses. American Journal of Infection Control, 41(12), 1218–1223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2013.02.017
40.
RockwoodC. A.Jr., O'DonoghueD. H. (1960). The surgical mask: Its development, usage, and efficiency. A review of the literature, and new experimental studies. Archives of Surgery, 80, 963–971. https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1960.01290230081010
41.
SachdevR., GargK., SinghG., & MehrotraV. (2020). Is safeguard compromised? Surgical mouth mask harboring hazardous microorganisms in dental practice. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 9(2), 759–763. https://doi.org/DOI:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1039_19
42.
SkariaS. D., & SmaldoneG. C. (2014). Respiratory Source Control Using Surgical Masks With Nanofiber Media. The Annals of Occupational Hygiene. https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/meu023
43.
SmithJ. D., MacDougallC. C., JohnstoneJ., CopesR. A., SchwartzB., & GarberG. E. (2016). Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks in protecting health care workers from acute respiratory infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 188(8), 567–574. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.150835
44.
SpoonerJ. L. (1967). History of surgical face masks. AORN Journal, 5(1), 76–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0001-2092(08)71359-0
45.
WeaverG. H. (1919). Droplet infection and its prevention by the face mask Author (s): George H. Weaver Published by Oxford University Press. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 24(3), 218–230.