Assessment of Fungal Contamination in Used Masks of HealthCare Workers—Implication for Better Mask Hygiene Practices in Hospital Settings
Geethu Mathew, Shantala Gowda Basawarajappa, Santu Ghosh, K Akshaya, Debasis Chattergie, Deepthi Ramamurthy, N Thara, Avinash Gaikwad, Panjakumar Karunamoorthy, Ashwini Lonimath, Nileena Suresh, Manikandan Srinivasan, Ravichandran Beerappa, TR Harsha, R AmbicaAbstract
Background:
Face masks are essential components of personal protective equipment widely used in infection control. However, improper use can expose patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) to opportunistic infections.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the extent of fungal contamination in masks worn by HCWs and the contributing factors.
Methods:
In this study, 400 HCWs from various clinical settings (wards, intensive care units (ICUs), emergency rooms, and outpatient department (OPD)) from hospitals in an Indian city were assessed for fungal contamination in used masks along with the working environment. The fungal contaminations were studied and identified using standard microbial techniques. A predesigned questionnaire was adapted to record personal mask hygiene, work patterns, and demographic profiles.
Results:
Most HCWs were females, 267 (66.8%), with a mean age of 30.8 ± 9.6 years. Fungal contamination was detected in 56% of the mask samples, with colony counts ranging from 1 to 100 per mask. The most common fungal species identified in masks (>90%) was
Conclusion:
The present study highlights the significance of HCWs adhering to stringent mask hygiene protocols and targeted interventions to mitigate fungal contamination in indoor hospital settings that pose health risks to healthcare personnel and immunocompromised patients.