With the new outbreak of H1N1 flu in spring 2009 and the expected second wave of flu outbreaks in the 2009-2010 flu season, there has been great interest in using surgical masks (masks) and respirators as infection control measures. "Although their appearance is usually similar, compared with surgical masks, respirators have significantly different functions in design and engineering. The reduced exposure of respirators and surgical masks is different. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of NIOSH certified N95 or better respirator to protect medical personnel who are in direct contact with H1N1 patients.
The CDC guidelines can be found in the 2009 Interim Guidelines for Infection Control Measures of H1N1 Influenza Health Care Institutions. In September 2009, the Institute of Medicine issued a report "Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers In the Workplace Against Novel H1N1 Influenza a", The report also recommends that medical personnel use N95 respiratory protective masks to protect against influenza A H1N1. This blog discusses the scientific principles behind the design and performance of surgical masks and respirators. Although these principles apply to all particulate protective masks, the discussion in this article focuses on the most commonly used N95 filter mask protective masks (FFR) in the medical environment.
Evolution of respiratory protection against particulate exposure
Early surgical masks were made of multiple layers of gauze. In the early 20th century, surgical staff wore such gloves for the first time to prevent contamination of open surgical wounds. Over time, their design, functions, and uses have expanded. Today, surgical masks are widely used in various medical settings to protect patients from the breathing gas emissions of the wearer. A surgical mask is a disposable device that prevents users from releasing potential contaminants into the surrounding environment. In the United States, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medical masks for sale. They may be labeled as surgical, laser, isolation, dental or medical procedure masks. They can wear masks or not. Since OSHA published the standard for bloodborne pathogens (29 CFR 1910.1030) in 1991, surgical masks have been recommended as part of general precautions to protect the wearer from direct splashes and splashes of infectious blood or body fluids. (The FDA provides more information about surgical masks.)
The first modern respirator was also developed in the early 20th century. The motivation for their development came from protecting miners from harmful dust and gas, soldiers from chemical warfare agents, and firefighters from smoke and carbon monoxide. In 1919, the U.S. Bureau of Mines issued the first performance standard for gas masks, which applies to self-contained breathing apparatus used in mines and gas masks used by soldiers to combat chemical warfare agents. Today, respirators can be found in many workplaces. Their use in medical institutions can be traced back to the 1990s, when people worried that employees would contract drug-resistant tuberculosis. Medical staff's illness and death during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in the early 2000s have renewed attention to the use of respirators to treat certain infectious respiratory diseases. More recently, planning work for pandemic influenza in 2006-07 has led to a lot of discussions about the role of small particle inhalation in the spread of disease and the use of respirator to protect medical staff from airborne influenza particles. A list of all disposable masks or filter masks approved by niosh can be provided. NIOSH also maintains a database of all NIOSH approved respirators, regardless of the type of respirator-the list of certified equipment.
Whether the goal is to prevent the aerosol generated by the user from escaping outward, or to prevent harmful air particles from being transported inward, performance has two important aspects. First, the filter must be able to capture harmful particles, usually in a large range of sizes (<1> 100µm) in a series of airflows (approximately 10 to 100 L / min). Second, leakage must be prevented at the boundary between the mask and the face. However, without first ensuring that the filter functions well, it is impossible to ensure good sealing performance at the rear end. https://www.maskwholesales.com