A DEEPER PERSPECTIVE ON FACE MASKS - A MEDICAL AID DURING SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS) EPIDEMIC

Microbial etiology of diseases has been in vogue since Robert Koch postulates were put forward. The development in microbe identification has led to the improvement in diagnosis, treatments and medication. Despite revolutionary improvements in care - there is a threshold after which the infections spread unabated. The precautions against infections is of paramount importance as that of treatment, as they reduce the risk factor for both the general public and the health care workers alike. The infection can be prevented by the use of medical aids such as face masks and personal protective equipment. The use of masks has been practiced since ancient times and have been specifically designed based on its requirements. The masks and Personal protective equipment are essential utilities during the epidemic, and their need increases as the public and medical care workers are requested to wear it to prevent the spread of infection. It is an onerous task to manufacture the masks and make it available for the whole populace. The development of reusable cloth masks could avoid this situation. Further, improvisations in the design of the cloth masks and the spread of infections by using the nanomaterials coated cloth masks might reduce the risk of local transmission of the infection. This review focusses on the different types of masks, importance of emerging nanotechnology in mask production, their reusability and methods used for disposal during the outbreak of the disease.