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British Journal of Anaesthesia, 1992, Vol. 69, No. 4 407-408
© 1992 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

research-article

SURGICAL FACE MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION CAUSED BY DISPERSAL FROM THE UPPER AIRWAY

B.J. PHILIPS, M.B., B.S., S. FERGUSSON, F.I.M.L.S., P. ARMSTRONG, F.R.C.ANAES., F.M. ANDERSON, M.R.C.PATH. and J. A. W. WILDSMITH, M.D., F.R.C.ANAES.

Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9YW.
Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical School Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG

We have studied the effectiveness of surgical face masks in reducing bacterial contamination of a surface, produced by dispersal of organisms from the upper airway. Twenty-five volunteers were asked to speak at blood agar plates positioned in close proximity to the mouth, initially whilst not wearing a face mask and then wearing a surgical face mask over the mouth and nose. A fresh face mask almost completely abolished bacterial contamination of agar plates 30 cm from the mouth. After 15 min there was an increase in the level of contamination which was statistically insignificant.


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