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Discussion

TB masks

Quick question on TB masks...

On the isolation signs we place on patient's doors for respiratory precautions, it says that if a patient has TB then visitors and healthcare workers are supposed to wear the N95 mask BUT it says if the patient is tranported out of the room then the patient is supposed to wear a regular surgical mask.

So...if a N95 mask is placed on the patient instead of a surgical mask will it still keep the germs inside the mask? Or is it a case where germs can go out of the mask but can't come inside it?

I ask because none of the nurses on my unit really seem to know yet, even though the sign says for the patient to wear a surgical mask, some think the N95 masks create a better seal so they put those on the patient instead.

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Here's my thinking, not based on any concrete info.

An N95 mask on the patient should keep the particulates inside, but it's a bit of overkill. A surgical mask should be fine for patient transport, because the TB particles that are exhaled by the patient are exhaled in a moist medium, which will make them stick to the inside of the mask.

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Here's my thinking, not based on any concrete info.

An N95 mask on the patient should keep the particulates inside, but it's a bit of overkill. A surgical mask should be fine for patient transport, because the TB particles that are exhaled by the patient are exhaled in a moist medium, which will make them stick to the inside of the mask.

I've been wondering the same. The sign just says for the patient to wear a surgical mask, in bold letters and everything, and I just thought that if it didn't matter it would say surgical mask or N95 mask.

Maybe it doesn't suggest the N95 mask because they are too expensive???

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