At “half mask” or “nose commando:” A note demonstrating nasal breaths can spread microorganisms when improperly wearing a mask during COVID-19
https://doi.org/10.4081/mm.2020.9375
Submitted: 29 September 2020
Accepted: 16 November 2020
Published: 30 November 2020
Accepted: 16 November 2020
Abstract Views: 1528
PDF: 750
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Many individuals are wearing face masks improperly at ‘half mask’ and potentially breathing out microbes that can contaminate the air as well as anything below the nose. This note provides the first report that bacteria and fungi breathed out during nasal air exhalation are able to be cultured after landing on blood agar plates. The CFU’s are higher after both 10 breaths and extremely significant for 20 breaths compared to the control plates exposed to the air. Implications of this finding are that going ‘nose commando’ may be able to continue the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. Minute bioaerosols carrying bacteria may be designated as microsnot.
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PubMed Google Scholar
3. Dhand R, Li J. Coughs and Sneezes: Their Role in Transmission of Respiratory Viral Infections, Including SARS-CoV-2. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2020 Jun 16(ja). https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202004-1263PP
4. Chu DK, Akl EA, Duda S, Solo K, Yaacoub S, Schünemann HJ, et al. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. (2020) 395:1973–87. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31142-9
PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar
5. World Health Organization Advice on the Use of Masks in the Context of COVID-19: Interim Guidance. (2020) 9pp. 21 August 2020 Google Scholar
6. Wang J, Pan L, Tang S, Ji JS, and Shi X. Mask use during COVID-19: A risk adjusted strategy. Env Pollution 266(1): 115099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115099
7. Scheuch G. Breathing is enough: For the spread of influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 by breathing only. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2020;33:230–234. Link, Google Scholar
8. Edwards DA, Man JC, Brand P, et al. Inhaling to mitigate exhaled bioaerosols. P Natl Acad Sci USA. 101:17383–8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0408159101. 200.
[PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
9. Leung, N.H.L., Chu, D.K.W., Shiu, E.Y.C. et al. Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks. Nat Med 26, 676–680 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0843-2
10. Green CA, Katoch VM, Desikan KV. Quantitative estimation of Mycobacterium leprae in exhaled nasal breath. Lepr Rev. 1983; 54: 337340.
View Record in Scopus Google Scholar
11. Stelzer-Braid, S.; Oliver, B.G.; Blazey, A.J.; Argent, E.; Newsome, T.P.; Rawlinson, W.D.; Tovey, E.R. Exhalation of respiratory viruses by breathing, coughing, and talking. J.Med.Virol.2009, 81, 1674-1679.
12. Duguid J. The numbers and the sites of origin of the droplets expelled during expiratory activities. Edinburgh Medical Journal. 1945;52:385–401.
[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
13. Bhaskar ME, Arun S. SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Community Health Workers in India Before and After Use of Face Shields. JAMA. Published online August 17, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.15586
14. MacIntyre CR, and Chughtai AA, A rapid systematic review of the efficacy of face masks and respirators against coronaviruses and other respiratory transmissible viruses for the community, healthcare workers and sick patients. Int. J. Nurs. Stud. 108, 103629 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103629, Google Scholar Crossref
15. Chen M, Shen W, Rowan NR, Kulaga H, Hillel A, Ramanathan MJr, and Lane P. Elevated ACE2 expression in the olfactory neuroepithelium: implications for anosmia and upper respiratory SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication. European Respiratory J 2020; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01948-2020
16. Heald-Sargent T, Muller WJ, Zheng X, Rippe J, Patel AB, Kociolet LK. Age-related differences in nasopharyngeal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) levels in patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA Pediatr. Published online July 30, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.3651
Article PubMed Google Scholar
Wolff, R. J. (2020). At “half mask” or “nose commando:” A note demonstrating nasal breaths can spread microorganisms when improperly wearing a mask during COVID-19. Microbiologia Medica, 35(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/mm.2020.9375
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