N-95 respirator

N-95 respirator is a type of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is used to protect the wearer from airborne particles and from liquid contaminating the face. The 'N95' designation means that when subjected to careful testing, the respirator blocks at least 95 percent of very small (0.3 micron) test particles.

Design and Function[edit | edit source]

The N-95 respirator is designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles. The edges of the respirator are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth. Surgical N95 Respirators are commonly used in healthcare settings and are a subset of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs), often referred to as N95s.

Use in Healthcare Settings[edit | edit source]

Healthcare personnel (HCP) use N95 respirators to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), in healthcare settings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend that the general public wear N95 respirators to protect themselves from respiratory diseases. Instead, they recommend the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus.

Limitations[edit | edit source]

While the N-95 respirator can filter out certain airborne particles, it does not eliminate the risk of contracting infection, illness, or disease. The respirator must be used in conjunction with other protective measures, such as hand hygiene and social distancing.

See Also[edit | edit source]

N-95 respirator Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.