Surgical Masks

[cornpoohRN]

I have a question..........

In our OR, we seem to have 8 or 9 different types of masks. Since I started my oreintation 8 weeks ago, I have started to break out in the areas where the mask cups my face. I noticed 2 CST's wearing cloth masks during procedures. Does anyone else in their OR wear cloth masks?

Thanks for any help.

[mcmike55]

What I would do....politely ask for those cloth masks, take, them and put in a surgical archive!!!!

I've not seen a cloth mask in over 15 years, let alone see anyone wear them!

Do they still wash and sterilize their gloves too!!?? How about their surgical gown??

There are reasons that cloth masks and gowns have gone away!

I can't cite verse and chapter, but cloth masks are a gonner. They don't filter respirations the way masks do today, and they cannot protect the wearer from fumes, smoke or areosolized blood, etc as masks do today.

By the way, how are those masks laundered??? That is yet another infection control nightmare to contend with.

I'm an old timer, and admit I have trouble accepting new things, but,,,come on!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

By the way, we have a number of different masks as well. There are a number of variations, such as filtration rates, some have a plastic across the top that helps keep eyeglasses from fogging, etc. Some of our people break out wearing certain masks, others think that certain types of masks smell, etc

The more circular masks with rubber band straps, I believe, are typically for more short term use like in emergency dept.

Mike

[BethCNOR, BSN, RN]

LOL I have to agree with Mike. They do make hypoallergenic masks. Ask for those. I didn't know they still made cloth masks!

[keefeeta]

I'm having the same issue with the surgical masks. The lower half of my face turns red and breaks out within minutes of wearing the surgical masks. I've tried several different kinds including the hypo-allergenic masks with no luck. There are no FDA approved cloth masks available. Any helpful suggestions would be welcomed.