Will not wearing a mask when collecting nucleic acid worsen the infection?
Collecting nucleic acid without a mask will not necessarily aggravate the infection, but it does increase the risk of infection. As an effective physical protective barrier, the visor can prevent aerosols that may carry viruses from directly contacting the faces of medical staff, thereby reducing the chance of infection. During the nucleic acid testing process, if a face mask is not worn, the risk of medical staff being exposed to potential viruses will increase.
In medical practice, the use of face masks is considered one of the standard precautions, especially when performing procedures that may generate aerosols, such as collecting throat swab samples. The following are some detailed explanations on how not wearing a face mask may increase the risk of infection:
1. Risk of aerosol transmission
Pathogens such as the new coronavirus may be transmitted through an infected person’s coughing, sneezing or Aerosol transmission from speaking. When collecting nucleic acid, the person being tested may generate these aerosols. If there is no mask as a protection, medical staff may directly inhale these potential virus vectors.
2. Integrity of protective equipment
The visor and other personal protective equipment (such as masks, gloves, protective clothing) together form a complete protection system. The lack of a visor compromises the integrity of this system, reducing overall protection.
3. Possibility of contact transmission
When not wearing a visor, medical staff may touch their faces unconsciously. If there is a virus on their hands, this will increase the risk of infection. .
4. Environmental pollutants
In the environment where nucleic acids are collected, there may be surfaces contaminated by viruses. Without visor protection, medical staff may increase the chance of infection due to close contact with these pollutants when performing operations.
5. Cumulative risks of working long hours
For medical staff who perform nucleic acid tests for a long time, if they do not wear face masks, they will face more infections over time. Risks accumulate over time.
In summary, although not wearing a face mask will not necessarily directly lead to aggravation of infection, it will indeed significantly increase the risk of infection for medical staff during the nucleic acid testing process. Therefore, it is crucial to strictly adhere to personal protective measures, including wearing face masks.