An Assessment of the Benefit of Surgical Face Masks in Preventing Aerosol Droplet Spread during a Simulated Spinal Anaesthetic-a Blinded in vitro Study
Journal Title: Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research - Year 2015, Vol 10, Issue 8
Abstract
Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the benefit of wearing a surgical face mask in reducing aerosol contamination of agar plates in a simulated spinal anaesthetic. The contamination of plates with virulent organisms, association of growth with recent upper respiratory tract infection and food intake were also studied. Methods: A poster containing written text was fixed to a wall, with a standard agar plate suspended at its midpoint. Each volunteer (n=30) then read the text from the wall chart to simulate verbal interaction with a patient during a spinal anaesthetic, initially wearing a surgical mask and then once again without a mask. Results: This study revealed an increased risk (p =0.006) of bacterial growth on agar plates when not wearing a surgical face mask. Results also suggest that eating prior to surgical procedures may increase the risk of contamination of the surgical field in the absence of a barrier mask.
Authors and Affiliations
Abhijit Biswas, S. Ó. Riain, J. Saunders, D. Barron, N. O. Connell
Keywords
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- EP ID EP348514
- DOI 10.9734/BJMMR/2015/20265
- Views 68
- Downloads 0
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