page_title: 2002–2004 SARS outbreak among healthcare workers
section_title: Masks
hierarchical_section_title: 2002–2004 SARS outbreak among healthcare workers / Causes of transmission / Equipment inadequacy / Masks
caption_attribution_description: hospital staff member clothed in protective clothing. The full monty contains protective clothes, a mask, a coat and a cap and is used only once. It is used in handling with patients suffering from contagious diseases like MRSA.
context_page_description: The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome in healthcare workers —most notably in Toronto hospitals—during the global outbreak of SARS in 2002–2003 contributed to dozens of identified cases, some of them fatal. Researchers have found several key reasons for this development, such as the high-risk performances of medical operations on patients with SARS, inadequate use of protective equipment, psychological effects on the workers in response to the stress of dealing with the outbreak, and lack of information and training on treating SARS. Lessons learned from this outbreak among healthcare workers have contributed to newly developed treatment and prevention efforts and new recommendations from groups such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
context_section_description: Surgical masks were suggested to be used by both HCWs and patients.  This is because the specifically recommended type of masks do a good job of preventing one's own bacteria and fluid from escaping into the air—keeping both a patient and a HCW's bacteria and fluid to themselves.  Less intentionally but also important, these masks discourage patients and HCWs from putting their fingers or hands in contact with the nose and mouth, which could usually allow bacteria to spread from the hand to these areas.  Contrary to popular belief, some types of masks do little to prevent fluid and bacteria from coming in contact with the wearer of the mask, but they can still help prevent airborne infection.  Therefore, it is important that both the patient and the HCW wear the mask.  However, the aforementioned study's results indicate that HCWs wore them much more often than the patients themselves; in fact, fourteen of the HCWS always wore their mask, while only 1 of the patients always wore his/her mask.
caption: An example of a hospital gown worn by HCWs and patients.
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