Reusability of Facemasks During an Influenza Pandemic Facing the Flu (2006) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction and Background
1 Introduction and Background
Pages 11-21
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From page 11... ...
Because influenza viruses are mutable and adaptable, new vaccines must be developed on a continual basis to keep up with constantly changing viral strains. Primary prevention strategies, including vaccines and antiviral prophylaxes, are likely to be either unavailable, depending on the influenza strain, or initially limited in quantity and availability.2 1Avian influenza is a type of influenza A infection caused by avian (bird)
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From page 12... ...
Clearly there is widespread public interest and concern about pandemic influenza, its transmission, the probability that it will occur, and what can be done to protect the public's health. Public health officials and organizations throughout the world remain on high alert because of increasing concerns about the prospect of an influenza pandemic, which many experts believe to be inevitable.
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From page 13... ...
requires detailed knowledge about the relative role played by the various modes of transmission. The committee's review of scientific literature found vigorous debate about the mechanisms of influenza transmission and a lack of clear evidence supporting a single mode (Garner and The Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, 1996; Goldmann, 2000; 3The use of geographic indicators for the origin of these influenza strains stems from the best epidemiological guesses at the time.
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From page 14... ...
. Thus, hand hygiene, that is, frequent hand washing, using soap and water or alcohol-based hand gels, is an essential feature of limiting influenza transmission through contact (WHO Writing Group, 2006)
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From page 15... ...
. This probability makes consideration of aerosol protection an important part of infection control planning.4 RESPIRATOR OR MEDICAL MASK USE AS A NONPHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTION In the event of pandemic influenza, supplies of effective vaccines and antiviral medications are likely to be inadequate to treat a very large number of affected individuals.
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From page 16... ...
Properly fitted respirators provide better protection against airborne transmission of infectious particles than do medical masks. N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator: A disposable respirator with a filtering facepiece that has been tested and certified by NIOSH and meets the NIOSH criteria for a minimum 95 percent filter effi ciency at the most penetrating particle size.
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From page 17... ...
The IOM Committee on the Development of Reusable Facemasks for Use During an Influenza Pandemic consists of members with expertise in the areas of epidemiology, risk assessment, public health, infectious disease, emergency and respiratory medicine, industrial hygiene, personal protective equipment (including respirators) , occupational safety and health, textile engineering, polymer science and engineering, pathobiology, and anthropometrics.
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From page 18... ...
Examples of the types of questions related to design of reusable masks that will be considered include: what materials would be effective; what would be an acceptable level of fluid resistance and filtration efficiency (e.g., individual to pre vent respiratory droplets from being dispersed, and to reduce ex posure to potentially infectious material, that is, to ensure that re usable masks for noninfected individuals filter inflowing air to minimize exposure to the flu virus, and reusable masks for compliance with existing standards and legal requirements, but the committee acknowledges that there may be difficulty in meeting such standards during a pandemic situation. Because the committee consisted of members drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives across medical science, engineering, and public policy, it was necessary to develop a common vocabulary (see the Glossary, Appendix C)
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From page 19... ...
-- Specifications, properties and design of a reusable dispos able respi-rator for use by healthcare personnel that would have better fit characteristics than existing surgical masks, and filtration characteristics appropriate for preventing exposure to infectious respiratory droplets (e.g., materials that would be effective; appro priate fit characteristics; appropriate barrier characteristics; appropriate filtration characteristics; durability; ease and effective ness of washing; possible novel surface treatments to decrease viral infectivity)
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From page 20... ...
1996. Guidelines for isolation practices in hospitals, Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee.
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From page 21... ...
2006. Nonpharmaceutical interventions for pandemic influenza, national and community measures.
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