US Government Issues Facemask Advice For Flu Pandemic
Featured ArticleMain Category: Flu / Cold / SARS
Also Included In: Bird Flu / Avian Flu; Medical Devices / Diagnostics; Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 04 May 2007 - 3:00 PDT
email to a friend 
printer friendly 
opinions
| Patient / Public: |  |
3.75 (4 votes) |
| Healthcare Prof: |  |
1 (1 votes) |
| Article Opinions: | 2 posts |
The US government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an interim statement that advises people about using facemasks and respirators in public places (as opposed to workplaces) in the event of a pandemic. The advice is temporary, pending a fuller scientific investigation of the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators.
The CDC is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The main concern is to tell people about facemasks and respirators, address their frequently asked questions, and give advice on additional precautions. However, at present, this advice is based on sparse scientific evidence, gleaned mostly from using these devices in healthcare settings.
During a pandemic, facemasks and respirators on their own are unlikely to protect people from becoming infected or reduce the spread of the virus. Spread and infection are more likely to be contained if people also:
-- Stay away from infected people,
-- Avoid crowds,
-- Stay home if they are infected,
-- Wash hands frequently with soap and clean water,
-- Take antiviral medication,
-- Encourage family members and friends to stay at home if they are infected.
CDC Director, Dr Julie Gerberding said:
"During an influenza pandemic, we know that no single action will provide complete protection."
She also said that many people will probably choose to use facemasks for extra protection even though there is little evidence of their effectiveness.
"If people are not able to avoid crowded places, large gatherings or are caring for people who are ill, using a facemask or a respirator correctly and consistently could help protect people and reduce the spread of pandemic influenza," added Dr Gerberding.
In summary, the guide suggests that you should consider wearing a facemask in a flu pandemic if you:
-- Are sick with flu and close to people who may become infected (roughly within 6 feet, or about 2 metres).
-- Live with or spend time with people who have flu symptoms (they could be infectious).
-- Spend time in crowded places (to protect yourself from infected people, or if you are infected, to protect them from you).
And you should consider using a respirator if you:
-- Are well and spend time close to people who are infected (within 6 feet or 2 metres).
-- Are taking care of a person who is sick with flu.
The CDC emphasizes that whether you wear a mask, respirator, or neither of these, you should limit the time you spend close to infected people if you are well, and if you are infected yourself, limit the time you spend close to others to minimize the chance of passing it on.
Facemasks are designed as a barrier to droplets from sneezes, coughs and splutters from other people. They also reduce the chance that the wearer will spray droplets onto others. They will not protect the wearer from breathing in small virus particles.
Respirators on the other hand have finer filters designed to stop most virus particles from being breathed in by the wearer and are probably your best bet if you are in frequent contact with an infected person.
Dr Michael Bell, associate director for infection control at CDC's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, put it like this:
"If you're caring for someone who is ill with pandemic flu, proper use of a well-fitted respirator may be a reasonable choice."
However, wearing facemasks and respirators brings additional problems not present when you don't wear them. For example they make you sweat and feel hot, and this increases the frequency of touching your face with your hands, adding an additional entry route for the virus. And they may also give you a false sense of security so you neglect other important precautions.
US Health Secretary Mike Leavitt said pandemic flu remains a real threat and this guidance is an important step in the effort to ready the nation for such an event.
Click here for more information on using facemasks and respirators (HHS pandemic flu site).
Written by: Catharine Paddock
Writer: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
MLA
16 Feb. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/69891.php>
APA
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/69891.php.
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
|
Rate this article: (Hover over the stars then click to rate) |
Patient / Public: |
or |
Health Professional: |
Visitor Opinions In Chronological Order (2)
N95 Respirators Versus Surgical Masks
posted by Daniel Ferrer on 5 May 2007 at 1:09 pmN95 respirators versus surgical masks.
The CDC needs to read the research on using N95 masks versus surgical masks. Since there is research on SARS that shows surgical masks are not as good for protection against disease like a flu pandemic or something like SARS. Surgical masks should be de-emphasized and in fact the better idea for the public would be using something like the 3M Particulate Respirator - 8293 P100, since it is rated now for "40 hours of use or 30 days, whichever is first" according to 3M's web site. So, that might be better than using the N95 or N100 that are disposable and it would certainly be better than any suggestion like CDC’s of using surgical masks. I think surgical masks are cheaper than masks that are rated at N95 level. The US Department of Labor (OSHA) says, “NIOSH-approved disposable particulate respirators (e.g., N95, N99, or N100) are the minimum level of respiratory protection that should be worn.” Remember respirators that N95 approved are >95% efficient at filtering 0.3-m particles which are smaller than the 5-μm size of large droplet that are created during talking, coughing, and sneezing which are known to usually transmit flu and SARS, etc. Cheaper is not better when it comes to our loves ones dying.
The CDC really missed lots of research already done on this topic. For some reason that have dropped part of their name, which is officially Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they need to user their full name and bring PREVENTION to the for front and start thinking about how to save people in real life. CDCP needs to re-think their programs after the mistakes they did during Hurricane Katrina. NIOSH Approves N95 Disposable Particulate Respirators and they have a list of which manufactures and which of their mask/respirators are approved. For workers that are around people sick with SARS, then NIOSH says, “A respirator that is at least as protective as an N-95 respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)”. NIOSH also say that “Surgical masks are recommended only as a last resort for health care and medical transport workers exposed to SARS patients when no NIOSH-approved respirator equivalent to or greater than the N-95 is available.” That is their emphasis. Are you getting the idea? What is good for SARS is the guidelines for other respiratory diseases as well.
The partial solution to use face masks as respirators for protection against airborne infectious agents needs to be made an especially wide spread priority for hospital, person, families, work environments, etc. Studies of SARS in a hospital setting (e.g., Mark Loeb (Ontario, Canada), W.H. Seto (Hong Kong)) points to the use of N95 masks as one of the best ways to protect health care workers. Seto for example says, “only use of the masks was significant in the final model [protection against SARS].” (Lancet vol 361, May 3, 2003, p. 1520). Mark Loeb (2004) writing about SARS said: “We found a near 80% reduction in risk for infection for nurses who consistently wore masks (either surgical or N95). …Our data suggest that the N95 mask offers more protection than a surgical mask.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs to own up to their name and get the right information to our citizens. We should have plenty of N95 or P100 respirators for every one’s protection. Drop the surgical mask crap. There is way too much at stake for the CDCP to give out misinformation.
Yes N-95 should be used, But...
posted by Mozart on 27 Jul 2009 at 12:18 pmI agree that the N-95 should be used. However, you discuss using a P-100 for multiple uses based on 3M standards. N-95 makers will have two lines of masks, industrial and health care.
For the industrial use masks it should be okay to reuse masks. For the health care N-95 it is advisable to dispose of the mask as it can be contaminated with a live virus, ie. H1N1.
Add Your Opinion
Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.
All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)
Contact Our News Editors
For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.
Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:
Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.
Privacy Policy |
Terms and Conditions
MediLexicon International Ltd
Bexhill-on-Sea, United Kingdom
MediLexicon International Ltd © 2004-2012 All rights reserved.
