Usporedba učinkovitosti različitih vrsta zaštitnih maski u smanjenju prijenosa virusa SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Introduction. Protective equipment has become globally used to protect against respiratory infections in healthcare workers and sick patients. With the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the global pandemic, the role of protective masks in reducing the transmission of the new virus has become the subject of much research. Although the protective mask has a significant role in reducing the transmission of infections, wearing it also has certain adverse effects. Aim. The aim of this review is to show the effectiveness of different types of protective masks in reducing the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as the comparison of adverse effects when wearing protective masks. Methods. The method for analyzing the topic of the effectiveness of protective masks included reviews of papers found on the Google search engine, Medline database (via PubMed) and Hrcak. Included in the analysis are scientific papers with clinical trials or review papers, in English and Croatian, regardless of methodology, published since 2020. Included works include topics such as medical masks, respirators, cloth masks and their materials, effectiveness and importance of use, and adverse effects of wearing protective masks. A total of 2,110 articles, original and review papers were found, of which, after a detailed reading and analysis of several authors, 11 were selected that meet the eligibility criteria of this review paper.Results. There are filter half-masks with/without valve, surgical masks and hygienic or cloth masks. A surgical mask may provide better protection than a cloth mask, although this may depend on the layers and material the masks are made of. Respirator masks are somewhat more effective than surgical masks, but the difference turned out to be insignificant. The most common side effects of wearing masks for a long time are increased secretion of sputum, cough, dyspnea, difficulty when communicating, lack of closeness and feelings of insecurity. Conclusion. A face mask protects against infection and is associated with a reduced risk of infection. The habit of wearing a mask and the correct way of wearing it proved to be important factors in reducing the risk of infection.