The Institute of Medicine has been asked to make recommendations about how to protect healthcare workers against swine-origin H1N1 influenza. They have been hearing presentations concerning the effectiveness of facemasks in preventing respiratory infections.
Not being an expert in respirators, are there any options other than the N95 studied that offer protection against influenza? Or, in other words, what should a discerning consumer look for in a protective "surgical type" mask if they want to protect themselves from exposure or from exposing others?(I assume the masks work both ways?)
Thu Aug 13 19:31:46 2009