Cargando…

Last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic

Face masks and respirators are the most widely used intervention measures for respiratory protection. In the wake of COVID-19, in response to shortages and lack of availability of surgical masks and respirators, the use of cloth masks has become a research focus. Various fabrics have been promoted w...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Bhattacharjee, Shovon, Bahl, Prateek, Chughtai, Abrar Ahmad, MacIntyre, C Raina
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: BMJ Publishing Group 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7484883/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32913005
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000698
_version_ 1783581064033206272
author Bhattacharjee, Shovon
Bahl, Prateek
Chughtai, Abrar Ahmad
MacIntyre, C Raina
author_facet Bhattacharjee, Shovon
Bahl, Prateek
Chughtai, Abrar Ahmad
MacIntyre, C Raina
author_sort Bhattacharjee, Shovon
collection PubMed
description Face masks and respirators are the most widely used intervention measures for respiratory protection. In the wake of COVID-19, in response to shortages and lack of availability of surgical masks and respirators, the use of cloth masks has become a research focus. Various fabrics have been promoted with little evidence-based foundation and without guidelines on design principles for optimal performance. In these circumstances, it is essential to understand the properties, key performance factors, filter mechanisms and evidence on cloth masks materials. The general community might also need to decontaminate and reuse disposable, single-use devices as a last resort. We present an overview of the filter materials, filter mechanisms and effectiveness, key performance factors, and hydrophobicity of the common disposable masks, as well as cloth masks. We also reviewed decontamination methods for disposable respiratory devices. As an alternative to surgical masks and respirators, we recommend a cloth mask made of at least three layers (300–350 threads per inch) and adding a nylon stocking layer over the mask for a better fit. Water-resistant fabrics (polyesters/nylon), blends of fabrics and water-absorbing fabrics (cotton) should be in the outside layer, middle layer/layers and inside layer, respectively. The information outlined here will help people to navigate their choices if facing shortages of appropriate respiratory protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.
format Online
Article
Text
id pubmed-7484883
institution National Center for Biotechnology Information
language English
publishDate 2020
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format MEDLINE/PubMed
spelling pubmed-74848832020-09-18 Last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic Bhattacharjee, Shovon Bahl, Prateek Chughtai, Abrar Ahmad MacIntyre, C Raina BMJ Open Respir Res Respiratory Epidemiology Face masks and respirators are the most widely used intervention measures for respiratory protection. In the wake of COVID-19, in response to shortages and lack of availability of surgical masks and respirators, the use of cloth masks has become a research focus. Various fabrics have been promoted with little evidence-based foundation and without guidelines on design principles for optimal performance. In these circumstances, it is essential to understand the properties, key performance factors, filter mechanisms and evidence on cloth masks materials. The general community might also need to decontaminate and reuse disposable, single-use devices as a last resort. We present an overview of the filter materials, filter mechanisms and effectiveness, key performance factors, and hydrophobicity of the common disposable masks, as well as cloth masks. We also reviewed decontamination methods for disposable respiratory devices. As an alternative to surgical masks and respirators, we recommend a cloth mask made of at least three layers (300–350 threads per inch) and adding a nylon stocking layer over the mask for a better fit. Water-resistant fabrics (polyesters/nylon), blends of fabrics and water-absorbing fabrics (cotton) should be in the outside layer, middle layer/layers and inside layer, respectively. The information outlined here will help people to navigate their choices if facing shortages of appropriate respiratory protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Publishing Group 2020-09-10 /pmc/articles/PMC7484883/ /pubmed/32913005 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000698 Text en © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
spellingShingle Respiratory Epidemiology
Bhattacharjee, Shovon
Bahl, Prateek
Chughtai, Abrar Ahmad
MacIntyre, C Raina
Last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
title Last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full Last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_fullStr Last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_short Last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_sort last-resort strategies during mask shortages: optimal design features of cloth masks and decontamination of disposable masks during the covid-19 pandemic
topic Respiratory Epidemiology
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7484883/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32913005
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000698
work_keys_str_mv AT bhattacharjeeshovon lastresortstrategiesduringmaskshortagesoptimaldesignfeaturesofclothmasksanddecontaminationofdisposablemasksduringthecovid19pandemic
AT bahlprateek lastresortstrategiesduringmaskshortagesoptimaldesignfeaturesofclothmasksanddecontaminationofdisposablemasksduringthecovid19pandemic
AT chughtaiabrarahmad lastresortstrategiesduringmaskshortagesoptimaldesignfeaturesofclothmasksanddecontaminationofdisposablemasksduringthecovid19pandemic
AT macintyrecraina lastresortstrategiesduringmaskshortagesoptimaldesignfeaturesofclothmasksanddecontaminationofdisposablemasksduringthecovid19pandemic