Are surgical masks manufactured from sterilisation wrap safe?
Infect Dis Health
; 26(2): 104-109, 2021 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-933122
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Due to regional shortages some health services have proposed using surgical masks manufactured from sterilisation wrap. However, there has been little assessment of the safety of this practice. Therefore, we developed our own prototypes and evaluated whether they met regulatory standards.METHODS:
Surgical mask prototypes were manufactured from two thickness grades of commercial sterilisation wrap. Safety was assessed in the context of regulatory standards. As it was not previously reported, we developed and performed differential pressure and synthetic blood penetration resistance experiments in accordance with official methodology.RESULTS:
Bacterial filtration efficiency was comparable between sterilisation wrap and commercial surgical masks. Both prototypes met regulatory standards for synthetic blood resistance, whilst only our thinner mask fulfilled acceptable differential pressure ('breathability') thresholds.CONCLUSION:
Acceptable barrier and breathability properties can be achieved with surgical masks produced from sterilisation wrap. Therefore, this may be a reasonable method to supplement stock if required. Unless there are shortages mandating alternatives, health-care workers should always use approved personal protective equipment.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sterilization
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Masks
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Infect Dis Health
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS