Bacterial Dispersion Associated With Various Patient Face Mask Designs During Simulated Intravitreal Injections.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

We sought to investigate bacterial dispersion with patient face mask use during simulated intravitreal injections.

Design

Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods

Fifteen healthy subjects were recruited for this single-center study. Each participant was instructed not to speak for 2 minutes, simulating a "no-talking" policy, while in an ophthalmic examination chair with an blood agar plate secured to the forehead and wearing various face masks (no mask, loose fitting surgical mask, tight-fitting surgical mask without tape, tight-fitting surgical mask with adhesive tape securing the superior portion of the mask, N95 mask, and cloth mask). Each scenario was then repeated while reading a 2-minute script, simulating a talking patient. The primary outcome measure

SUBMITTER: Patel SN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7598764 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature