In recent days, with the epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia, there have been cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia infection in many places, and with the arrival of the Chinese New Year, the increased population movement has made it easier for the virus to spread.
In last night's News 1+1, Academician Zhong Nanshan has made it clear that this new type of coronavirus pneumonia can be transmitted from person to person, which means it can be spread through the respiratory tract. He also advises people to wear medical-surgical masks in places where there is a high concentration of abortion, which can effectively prevent infection.
So today, in many places, both online and in pharmacies outside, masks are out of stock. But there are still many people who do not know which mask should be worn to be useful, after all, there are disposable medical masks on the market, paper masks, cotton masks, activated carbon masks, many people are not sure.
As the questioner asks, what is the difference between a medical mask, a nursing mask, a surgical mask, and a non-surgical mask?
In fact, the hospital does not divide so many types of masks, generally only disposable medical masks, medical-surgical masks, and medical protective masks. So, how to distinguish between disposable medical masks, medical-surgical masks, and medical protective masks? What are their respective roles?
1. Distinguish from packaging
Generally, these three types of masks have different technical standards, "single-use medical masks" for (YY/T0969-2013), "medical-surgical masks" for (YY0469-2011) "medical protective masks" for (GB19038-2010). You can determine which type of mask the product belongs to by looking at the implementation standards marked on the outer packaging of the product, in addition to the packaging will also write the respective name.
2. Different shapes of masks.
Disposable medical masks and medical-surgical masks are both rectangular in shape, available in over-ear and strapped styles. The vast majority of medical protective masks are duck-billed, which is better differentiated.
3. Performance varies.
All three types of masks can have a filtering effect on bacteria, but they differ in terms of both water resistance and particle filtration efficiency. First, disposable medical masks have no performance requirements for both waterproofness and particle filtration efficiency, while medical-surgical masks and medical-protective masks have requirements. Secondly, the waterproof performance of the medical-surgical mask is higher than the medical-protection mask, which can prevent the infection of the doctor by the spatter of blood and body fluids produced during the surgery.
Finally, medical protective masks must have both the primary functions of a surgical mask, including bacterial filtration efficiency and the ability to block liquid spatters with pressure, and respiratory protection, which protects the wearer's breathing. And the particle filtration efficiency performance of medical protective masks is higher than that of medical-surgical masks.
What does each of these three masks do?
First of all, single-use medical masks are only suitable for general clinical operations to block the operator's oral and nasal exhaled contaminants, that is, no invasive operation when used, clinical hospital personnel in the work generally wear this mask. It can basically meet the needs of the common man as well.
Secondly, medical-surgical masks are suitable for use during surgery, laser treatment, isolation, and dental or other medical operations, as well as for air or droplet-borne diseases or wear; they are mainly used by hospital surgical operators because of their good waterproof properties and particle filtration efficiency.
Medical protective masks are suitable for occupational protection of medical personnel in contact with patients with airborne and droplet-borne diseases or with infectious micro-organisms because of their high particulate filtration efficiency and their ability to filter viruses.
Which mask should be chosen for this new coronavirus pneumonia prevention?
In fact, it has been explained from the interview of Academician Zhong Nanshan that for the prevention of this new coronavirus pneumonia, only medical-surgical masks should be worn in daily life, there is no need to wear medical protective masks. Medical protective masks, such as the KN95 mask, are required in the case of exposure to patients already infected with novel coronavirus pneumonia.
