Two masks can be worse than one: N95 respirator failure caused by an overlying face mask

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2023 Sep;44(9):1529-1531. doi: 10.1017/ice.2022.277. Epub 2022 Dec 20.

Abstract

We have demonstrated the effect of covering an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) with an overlying face mask. In total, 100 participants successfully completed quantitative fit testing wearing a 3M 1870+ FFR. Among them, 13 (13%; 95% CI, 7%-22%) failed subsequent fit testing when simultaneously wearing a Halyard 47117 procedural mask over the FFR.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Masks
  • N95 Respirators
  • Occupational Exposure*
  • Respiratory Protective Devices*