Kisielinski Kai, Wojtasik Barbara, Zalewska Aleksandra, Livermore David M, Jurczak-Kurek Agata
Clinical Medicine (Surgery), Emergency Medicine and Social Medicine, Private Practice, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Department of Evolutionary Genetics and Biosystematics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Front Public Health. 2024 Dec 3;12:1460981. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1460981. eCollection 2024.
Facemasks were widely mandated during the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Especially the use by the general population is associated with a higher risk of improper handling of the mask and contamination and potential adverse microbiological consequences.
We investigated and quantified bacterial accumulation in facemasks used by the general population, using 16S rRNA (Sanger Sequencing), culture and biochemical analysis along with Rose Bengal staining. Additionally, a systematic overview of the literature on face mask contamination was undertaken.
We found an average bacterial load of 4.24 × 10 CFU recovered/mask, with a maximum load of 2.85 × 10 CFU. This maximum is 310 times higher than the limit value for contamination of ventilation system outlet surfaces specified by the German standard VDI 6022. Biochemical and molecular identification predominantly found (80%), including , along with endospore-forming Bacillus spp. Literature reports also indicate contamination of masks by bacterial and fungal opportunists of the genera (including ), . Bacterial counts increase linearly with wearing duration.
Prolonged use may affect the skin and respiratory microbiomes, promoting consequential eye, skin, oral and airway conditions. These aspects underscore the urgent need for further research and a risk-benefit analysis in respect of mask use, particularly given their unproven efficacy in disrupting the transmission of respiratory viruses and their adverse social consequences.
在最近的SARS-CoV-2大流行期间，口罩被广泛强制使用。尤其是普通人群使用口罩时，存在更高的口罩处理不当、污染以及潜在不良微生物后果的风险。
我们使用16S rRNA（桑格测序）、培养和生化分析以及孟加拉玫瑰红染色，对普通人群使用的口罩中的细菌积累进行了调查和定量。此外，还对有关口罩污染的文献进行了系统综述。
我们发现每个口罩回收的平均细菌载量为4.24×10 CFU，最大载量为2.85×10 CFU。这个最大值比德国标准VDI 6022规定的通风系统出口表面污染限值高310倍。生化和分子鉴定主要发现（80%），包括，以及产芽孢的芽孢杆菌属。文献报告还表明，口罩受到（包括）、属的细菌和真菌机会致病菌的污染。细菌数量随佩戴时间呈线性增加。
长时间使用可能会影响皮肤和呼吸道微生物群，引发相应的眼部、皮肤、口腔和气道疾病。这些方面凸显了就口罩使用进行进一步研究和风险效益分析的迫切需求，特别是考虑到其在阻断呼吸道病毒传播方面未经证实的功效及其不良社会后果。
