Fungal contamination of medical masks among forensic healthcare workers in the COVID19 era

Abstract

BackgroundMedical masks are widely used in health care settings to protect healthcare workers from respiratory infections, particularly in the context of the recent Covid-19 disease. MethodsA cross-sectional study of 52 used masks collected from 52 forensic healthcare practitioners was conducted to culture for fungal isolation and identification. A study of fungal contamination was conducted by making an impression of the mouth mask cut piece on Sabouraud agar for selective isolation; each health worker completed a questionnaire, which included age, sex, type of mask, and duration of mask use. ResultsTwenty five of the 52 used masks tested positive for fungal contamination (48,08%). A total of 44% of the contaminated masks belong to health workers between the ages of 21–30 years. Surgical masks (80%), KN95 (8%), and N95 (4%) were the most contaminated protective devices. Usage duration of 1–2 h was associated with 4% of fungal contamination, while a usage duration of 5–6 h was associated with 36% of fungal contamination. Alternaria sp (32%), Penicillium sp (20%), Aspergillus sp (16%) were the most predominant isolated fungi discovered on the inside areas of the masks. ConclusionBecause fungi are known to cause allergies and serious adverse health effects following recommendations to properly wear a medical mask is critical to preventing fungal contamination, especially among health care workers who are wearing the same mask for a long period during the pandemic.