dc.contributor.author | Mueller, Amy V et al. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-06-30T19:07:37Z | |
dc.date.available | 2020-06-30T19:07:37Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2020-05-18 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.17.20069567 | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12663/1867 | |
dc.description.abstract | In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, cloth masks are being used to control the spread of virus, but the efficacy of these loose-fitting masks is not well known. Here, tools and methods typically used to assess tight-fitting respirators were modified to quantify the efficacy of community- and commercially-produced fabric masks as PPE. Two particle counters concurrently sample ambient air and air inside the masks; mask performance is evaluated by mean particle removal efficiency and statistical variability when worn as designed and with a nylon overlayer, to independently assess fit and material. Worn as designed both commercial surgical masks and cloth masks had widely varying effectiveness (53-75% and 28-90% filtration efficiency, respectively). Most surgical-style masks improved with the nylon overlayer, indicating poor fit. This rapid testing method uses widely available hardware, requires only a few calculations from collected data, and provides both a holistic and aspect-wise evaluation of mask performance. | en_US |
dc.language | English | en_US |
dc.subject | COVID-19 | en_US |
dc.subject | Coronavirus | en_US |
dc.subject | Pandemics | en_US |
dc.subject | Masks | en_US |
dc.subject | Personal Protective Equipment | en_US |
dc.subject | Coronavirus Infections | en_US |
dc.title | Quantitative Method for Comparative Assessment of Particle Filtration Efficiency of Fabric Masks as Alternatives to Standard Surgical Masks for PPE | en_US |
eihealth.country | Global (WHO/OMS) | en_US |
eihealth.category | Infection prevention and control, including health care workers protection | en_US |
eihealth.type | Published Article | en_US |
eihealth.maincategory | Protect Health Care Workers / Proteger la Salud de los Trabajadores | en_US |
dc.relation.ispartofjournal | medRxiv | en_US |