Convertors® Infection Control

Educational program

Selecting the Proper Face Mask
Lit. No. CON1410

When the face mask was originally introduced, its primary purpose was to prevent contamination of the open wound of a patient by microorganisms from the nose and mouth of the surgeon and other operating room personnel. In recent decades - with the advent of AIDS and the increasing prevalence of other bloodborne diseases, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C - face masks have assumed an important role not only in protecting patients, but also in protecting healthcare personnel from bloodborne infections. Proper use of faces masks is a key part of Standard Precautions, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) for use in the care of all patients, to guard against the spread of bloodborne disease in the healthcare setting. Though the CDC makes recommendations only, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates the use of Standard Precautions in its Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, which is applicable to any nurse providing patient care who may have contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). Mask use is a key part not only of Standard Precautions, but also of Droplet Precautions, the CDC's recommended practices for preventing the spread of droplet-transmitted infections. Similarly, use of a specialized mask (i.e., N95 respirator) is part of Airborne Precautions. Other specialized face masks have also been developed to protect healthcare personnel from the emissions of powered medical equipment (e.g., the smoke plume associated with lasers). In short, the use of masks by healthcare personnel in certain situations is widely recognized as a best practice. It is mandated by government regulations and recommended by the CDC. Proper use of masks is also strongly recommended in the guidelines of other professional organizations, such as the Association for periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

Personnel training and education is essential for ensuring compliance with professional standards and guidelines, government regulations and facility policies and procedures. This compliance is fundamental to protecting personnel from the risk of exposure to infectious agents and other hazards in the workplace.

This study guide is intended to provide guidance on the selection and use of face masks. It addresses:

• Types of face masks
• When and how face masks should be worn and the importance of proper fit
• The important performance characteristics of face masks: breathability, protection level (in terms of fluid resistance and filtration efficiency) and flammability
• Criteria for selecting a face mask for a given healthcare worker and applications

Objectives

After completing this education program, the participant should be able to:

1. Identify face mask design features and materials
2. Outline relevant government regulations and the recommendations of professional organizations
3. List the standardized tests used in the industry to evaluate the performance of face masks, especially with regard to fluid resistance
4. Describe important factors in the selection of face masks for particular applications

Intended audience

This self-study activity is designed to be used by nurses who want to learn more about selecting the appropriate face mask for patient care and their own protection. This nursing activity was planned and produced in accordance with ANCC Commission on Accreditation.

Issuance and expiration date

This material was originally produced in October 2005 and can no longer be produced after October 2008 without being updated. Therefore, nursing credit will not be issued after October 2008.