Contamination of Face Masks and Mask Hygiene Amongst Health Care Workers and General Population in Hamidia Hospital Premises- A Comparative Study

Only 44% of Indians were found to be correctly using masks, according to the latest survey.1,2 91.5% of participants did not wash their hands before using the mask, and 97.3% did not wash their hands after removing it.3 People touch their faces about 23 times every hour, and of those touches, 44% make contact with the mucosal membranes. The mucous membrane of the nose, eyes, and mouth can be self-inoculated, which is a significant method of virus transmission.3 To determine the bacterial load and microbial contamination on the mask, this study was designed with the objective: 1. To study the bacterial load and type of microbes growing on masks in Hamidia Hospital premises. 2. To suggest appropriate recommendations according to the study findings. A cross-sectional comparative study was planned in Hamidia Hospital for three months. Two groups were selected one containing 31 healthcare workers and the other constituting 30 general population visiting Hamidia Hospital. Result and conclusion: This study shows that the prolonged use of a mask (>6 hours) increases the risk of self-inoculation in the general population and frequent clinical contact in a healthcare setting adds to the risks for healthcare workers. Reuse of single-use masks, sharing of masks, and fabric masks should be avoided at all costs. Hand hygiene practices and replacing masks once they become damp are of key importance to avoid contamination. Additionally, it is usually advisable to discard medical face masks after each usage, whereas cotton face masks should be carefully cleaned.