Contamination of multiuse eyedrop bottles by exhaled air from patients wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic: Schlieren imaging analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To determine whether mask-induced redirected exhaled air through the superior mask gap contacts multiuse eyedrop bottles during drop administration and the efficacy of interventions to reduce such exposure.

Setting

Academic ophthalmology center.

Design

Interventional analysis.

Methods

Schlieren airflow imaging was taken of an examinee wearing frequently used face masks and enacting common clinical scenarios-with and without manual occlusion of the superior mask gap and/or neck extension-and maximum visible vertical breath plume height was quantified. Bottle height during eyedrop administration was measured for 4 ophthalmologists during instillation to 8 eyes of 4 subjects.

Results

Breath plume height (mean ± SD 275.5 ± 16.3 mm) was significantly

SUBMITTER: Garcia GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10954301 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature