Prolonged Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators Affects the Protection and Comfort for Healthcare Workers
This study explored the ideal period for wearing masks to prevent the physiological and psychological problems associated with long-term face mask use during respiratory infections by healthcare workers. Breathing simulators, surgical masks (SM) and medical respirators (PM) were prepared for two to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/22/7918 |
| _version_ | 1797464794873200640 |
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| author | Xiaoning Guan Jing Lin Jiaxiang Han Xiaodong Gao Ying Zhang Bijie Hu Robert Guidoin Lu Wang |
| author_facet | Xiaoning Guan Jing Lin Jiaxiang Han Xiaodong Gao Ying Zhang Bijie Hu Robert Guidoin Lu Wang |
| author_sort | Xiaoning Guan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explored the ideal period for wearing masks to prevent the physiological and psychological problems associated with long-term face mask use during respiratory infections by healthcare workers. Breathing simulators, surgical masks (SM) and medical respirators (PM) were prepared for two to eight hours. Changes in the comfort of masks (facial skin temperature, breathing resistance, and moisture permeability) and protection (filtration efficiency, resistance to blood penetration, and colony count) were assessed. The results demonstrated that the masks offered efficient liquid-particle filtering even after eight hours of use. However, the number of bacterial colonies using PM and SM grew significantly after two and four hours, respectively. Concerning comfort, the inspiratory resistance of masks rose dramatically after two hours, whereas the moisture permeability declined considerably after four hours. In addition, skin temperature had a significant increase within two hours, which may result in facial discomfort. When conditions permitted, the hospital staff was instructed to replace their masks every two hours. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:13:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-db66e9ab2e8b432e8cb8727d32a6756f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:13:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-db66e9ab2e8b432e8cb8727d32a6756f2023-11-24T09:01:07ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-11-011522791810.3390/ma15227918Prolonged Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators Affects the Protection and Comfort for Healthcare WorkersXiaoning Guan0Jing Lin1Jiaxiang Han2Xiaodong Gao3Ying Zhang4Bijie Hu5Robert Guidoin6Lu Wang7Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, ChinaKey Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, ChinaKey Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, ChinaDepartment of Hospital Infection Management, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaKey Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, ChinaDepartment of Hospital Infection Management, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaLOEX, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Centre de Recherche du CHU, Université Laval, Quebec City, QU G1V 0A6, CanadaKey Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, ChinaThis study explored the ideal period for wearing masks to prevent the physiological and psychological problems associated with long-term face mask use during respiratory infections by healthcare workers. Breathing simulators, surgical masks (SM) and medical respirators (PM) were prepared for two to eight hours. Changes in the comfort of masks (facial skin temperature, breathing resistance, and moisture permeability) and protection (filtration efficiency, resistance to blood penetration, and colony count) were assessed. The results demonstrated that the masks offered efficient liquid-particle filtering even after eight hours of use. However, the number of bacterial colonies using PM and SM grew significantly after two and four hours, respectively. Concerning comfort, the inspiratory resistance of masks rose dramatically after two hours, whereas the moisture permeability declined considerably after four hours. In addition, skin temperature had a significant increase within two hours, which may result in facial discomfort. When conditions permitted, the hospital staff was instructed to replace their masks every two hours.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/22/7918surgical maskrespiratorlong-term wearsafetycomfort |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoning Guan Jing Lin Jiaxiang Han Xiaodong Gao Ying Zhang Bijie Hu Robert Guidoin Lu Wang Prolonged Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators Affects the Protection and Comfort for Healthcare Workers Materials surgical mask respirator long-term wear safety comfort |
| title | Prolonged Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators Affects the Protection and Comfort for Healthcare Workers |
| title_full | Prolonged Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators Affects the Protection and Comfort for Healthcare Workers |
| title_fullStr | Prolonged Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators Affects the Protection and Comfort for Healthcare Workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prolonged Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators Affects the Protection and Comfort for Healthcare Workers |
| title_short | Prolonged Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators Affects the Protection and Comfort for Healthcare Workers |
| title_sort | prolonged use of surgical masks and respirators affects the protection and comfort for healthcare workers |
| topic | surgical mask respirator long-term wear safety comfort |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/22/7918 |
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