Surgical Mask

Surgical Mask

A surgical mask, also referred to as a procedure mask, is designed for use by healthcare professionals during surgical procedures and other times to capture bacteria emitted in liquid droplets and aerosols from the wearer's mouth and nose.

Beyond healthcare settings, similar-looking, inexpensive masks are commonly worn in densely populated areas in East Asia to help prevent the spread of the common cold. In Japan, it's customary to wear a face mask when ill to prevent infecting others in public. Surgical masks saw widespread use in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Toronto, Canada during outbreaks of the SARS virus, and more recently in Wuhan and surrounding cities during the 2020 Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

They're also worn by individuals working in dusty environments such as sanitation workers. Modern surgical masks are typically made from paper or other non-woven materials and are disposable after each use.

Simple surgical masks offer wearers protection from being splashed in the mouth with bodily fluids and prevent the transmission of such fluids from medical professionals to patients. They serve as a reminder not to touch the mouth or nose, potentially transferring viruses and bacteria from contaminated surfaces (fomites). Additionally, they can reduce the spread of infectious droplets containing bacteria or viruses emitted when the wearer coughs or sneezes. However, they're not designed to protect wearers from inhaling such particles. While they may trap some particles, they are less effective than respirators, which are specifically designed for this purpose.

Safety guidelines for healthcare workers recommend wearing a respirator mask that has been face-fit tested and conforms to standards such as the United States' NIOSH N95 or the European EN 149 FFP3 when dealing with pandemic-flu patients. This helps reduce the wearer's exposure to potentially infectious aerosols and airborne liquid droplets.

The CDC's N95 Factsheet provides further information on manufacturers' products and emphasizes the importance of correctly fitting such masks (respirators). This printable factsheet is intended for individuals unaccustomed to using respirators.