Abstract
The aim of this study was to draw attention to the possible consequences of improper, unhygienic use of mouth and nose covers in the context of prophylaxis against the spread of COVID-19 from the point of view of a family physician and focus on the risk of respiratory infections and skin lesions in patients, in different age groups. The use of protective masks may reduce the likelihood of infection but will not eliminate the risk of infection. However, it should be remembered that any mask, no matter how effective the filtration is or how well it seals, will have little effect if not used in conjunction with other preventive measures, including isolation of infected people, immunization, proper respiratory culture, regular, frequent replacement of masks, and hand hygiene. Additionally, certain risks associated with this form of prophylaxis should be taken into account, which, unfortunately, may also aggravate or even constitute a source of serious respiratory infections and lead to the development and aggravation of skin problems. Moreover, educating society not only on hand hygiene but also on the topic of the value of nose and mouth covers, as well as the frequency of their replacement and/or disinfection, is becoming a significant issue.
Highlights
The outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China in late 2019 has led to a pandemic and a serious global problem of both public health and the economy
On January 30, 2020, WHO announced the outbreak of COVID-19 as the sixth public health emergency of international concern beyond H1N1 (2009), polio (2014), Ebola in West Africa (2014), Zika (2016), and Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2019)
Microorganisms inhabiting biofilms in the oral cavity can enter oral secretions and colonize the surfaces of ventilators in intensive care units, being a source of infections [16]. Another subtype of lower respiratory tract infections is aspiration pneumonia, which develops as a result of inhalation of pathogenic bacteria or pathobionts that colonize oropharyngeal biofilms [17]
Summary
The outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China in late 2019 has led to a pandemic and a serious global problem of both public health and the economy. Since the first recorded local outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the virus and the disease it causes have spread rapidly. Microorganisms are present on the surface of many human tissues, for example, on the skin, in the mouth (oral cavity microbiome), and the respiratory tract. The oral cavity and mouth, in particular, are exposed to close contact with the surrounding environment through continuity and are susceptible to numerous airborne and foodborne microorganisms through food. This can lead to the development of pathobionts from other niches of the upper respiratory tract [3]
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