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. 1991 Jul;18(3):239-42.
doi: 10.1016/0195-6701(91)90148-2.

Surgical face masks in modern operating rooms--a costly and unnecessary ritual?

N J Mitchell  1 , S Hunt
Affiliations

Surgical face masks in modern operating rooms--a costly and unnecessary ritual?

N J Mitchell et al. J Hosp Infect. 1991 Jul.

Abstract

Following the commissioning of a new suite of operating rooms air movement studies showed a flow of air away from the operating table towards the periphery of the room. Oral microbial flora dispersed by unmasked male and female volunteers standing one metre from the table failed to contaminate exposed settle plates placed on the table. The wearing of face masks by non-scrubbed staff working in an operating room with forced ventilation seems to be unnecessary.

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Comment in

  • Face masks and postoperative infection.
    Rao GG, Harman J, Pollard R. Rao GG, et al. J Hosp Infect. 1992 Jan;20(1):55-7. doi: 10.1016/0195-6701(92)90063-r. J Hosp Infect. 1992. PMID: 1348074 No abstract available.
  • Masks in surgery.
    Orr NW, Bailey S. Orr NW, et al. J Hosp Infect. 1992 Jan;20(1):57. doi: 10.1016/0195-6701(92)90064-s. J Hosp Infect. 1992. PMID: 1348075 No abstract available.

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