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Abstract
In most modern hospitals, no one is allowed to enter the operating theatre without
wearing a surgical face mask. The practice of wearing masks is believed to minimize
the transmission of oro- and nasopharyngeal bacteria from operating theatre staff
to patients' wounds, thereby decreasing the likelihood of postoperative surgical site
infections. In this era of cost-restraints, shrinking hospital budgets, and evidence-based
medicine, many health care professionals have begun to re-examine traditional infection
control practices. Over the past decade, studies challenging the accepted dogma of
surgical face mask usage have been published. Masks that function as protective barriers
are another emerging issue. Due to a greater awareness of HIV and other blood-borne
viruses, masks are taking on a greater role in protecting health care workers from
potentially infectious blood and body fluids. The purpose of this review is to evaluate
the latest evidence for and against routine use of surgical face masks in the operating
theatre.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 8,
2000
Received:
May 3,
2000
Identification
Copyright
© 2001 The Hospital Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
