Will a surgical mask provide protection from inhaling B. anthracis spores?
A.Surgical masks are designed to protect patients or wound sites from exhaled aerosols from the mask wearer. They are not designed to provide respiratory protection to the wearer. Unlike an approved respirator, many surgical masks contain no or low efficiency filter media and do not form a tight seal against the face. However, there are some surgical masks that have been designed to pass European respirator certification requirements. Users should consult the surgical mask manufacturer for advice on suitability of the product for this application. Q. Is other personal protective equipment (PPE) needed in addition to a respirator? A. Anthrax infections can occur if B. anthracis spores enter the body via: • inhalation • abraded skin • ingestion It is important that when choosing personal protective equipment that all these routes of entry are protected. Q. What if I have a beard and want to wear a respirator for B. anthracis exposures? A. A tight sealing respirator, one where the sealing
