Surgical Masks:
Surgeons and all healthcare professionals should wear surgical masks for a number of critical reasons. Surgical masks help protect the healthcare professional from blood, bodily fluids, secretions, excretions, and reduce the passage of bacterial particles from the wearer into the environment and onto patients.
The use of surgical masks for protecting surgical teams and other healthcare workers from contamination is an important principle to consider. In fact, recently the protection of the health care professional, as well as the patient, has become an important infection control issue and is steadily becoming more complex. The issues related to the critical needs of wearing surgical masks are controlled by regulatory requirements which are constantly undergoing scrutiny and new development by the scientific and medical community. These issues have certainly gained the attention of the government.
In the United States, standards and guidelines regarding the use of surgical masks and other protective gear have been set by governing bodies and regulatory agencies such as:
ANSI
American National Standards Institute Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection
AORN
Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses
FDA
The Food and Drug Administration
JCAHO
Joint Council on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
NCQA
National Committee for Quality Assurance
NIOSH
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
For example, the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (BBS) is mandated by OSHA. The wearing of surgical face masks, eye protection, face shields, and other protective gear is commissioned by this regulation to eliminate, or at least reduce, exposure to bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B and HIV. This standard also includes requirements for storage of contaminants, risk assessment training, medical screening, written procedures, vaccinations, treatment, work practices, labeling, and employer-provided personal protective equipment. The BBPS specifically states:
1910.1030(d)(3)(i)
When there is occupational exposure, the employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, appropriate personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, gloves, gowns, laboratory coats, face shields or surgical masks and eye protection, and mouthpieces, resuscitation bags, pocket masks, or other ventilation devices. Personal protective equipment will be considered "appropriate" only if it does not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials to pass through to or reach the employee's work clothes, street clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time which the protective equipment will be used.
Surgical masks are effective only if worn properly. Surgical masks should be comfortable and completely cover the nose and mouth. The fit should assure there is no tenting at the sides that would allow entry or dispersal of any microbes. There should be a small pliable strip near the bridge of the nose to provide a close fit. They need to be changed frequently and changed anytime they become wet. It is not uncommon to see masks poorly fitted, placed below the nose, or wet with blood or body fluids. When removing surgical masks, only handle by the strings and promptly discard it into a proper waste container. A mask should never be allowed to hang around the neck, nor should it be placed in a pocket for later use – it should either be on or off.
Surgical masks are just one of a number of items that need to be donned in order to protect healthcare workers and patients alike:
Surgical masks and all of the items listed above are in our inventory. Please call us at 1-877-706-4480 for any questions or assistance.
