European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Face masks are the personal protective equipment which prevents the entry of toxic chemicals, microbes into our body. It acts as an effective barrier against infectious diseases. A respirator is the special type of equipment which protects the wearer from inhaling toxic chemicals, dust and airborne particles. Personal protective equipment (PPE) used by the health care providers are designed to protect the skin and the mucous membrane of eyes ,and nose which can reduce the risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suggested the use of standard surgical masks, cloth masks, and extended type of respirators in pandemic conditions. The recent types of face masks are N95,99, FFP1,2, surgical masks, single, double-layered masks, cloth masks etc. The filtration efficacy of each mask varies according to the manufacturer, as when compared with N95 masks of about 90 % and surgical masks only with 90%. Many studies have discussed the different types of face masks being used by healthcare providers, professionals, and people in the community. A review with valuable information about the recent types, functions of face masks were collected using the recent articles searched from pubmed, google scholar, core, cochrane etc, which are dated from 2000-2020. The aim of the present study to review about the recent types and functions of face masks used by the community people and health care providers.