Yoors
Premium
'You can get sick of your own bacteria'
Translated from Dutch. View the original post
here
Is such a warm cloth cloth for your mouth safe when your breath, saliva, nasal mucus and sweat get free? The few studies available show that long-term and misuse of mainly cotton #moonmaskers is devastated. We put them in our pocket, constantly fiddling with our hands, wear them too long and wash them too little and not thoroughly enough. And that way, it will become the hotbed of bacteria.
How safe is a fabric mouth mask when summer temperatures and a hot breath reduce it to a damp and dirty spit patch full of microbes? Microbiologist Sarah Lebeer (UAntwerpen) argues for a more conscious use.
There are few studies on the effect of mouth masks on the course of a pandemic. Randomized, controlled study, comparing a group of subjects with mouth mask to a group without, is difficult to implement. In addition, the high-quality FFP masks, which are not intended for the general public, and the fabric reusable masks are often shaved over one comb. There is a lot of discussion about the latter category.
Sports with mask
If you suffer from asthma or are insufficiently trained, playing with a surgical or fabric mouth mask is not a good idea. On that, experts sometimes seem to. The World Health Organization (WHO) even recommends them completely and believes that keeping distance during sports is more important as a preventive measure. If you can breathe harder, the risk of hyperventilation, dizziness and fainting increases. Even trained athletes are hampered in their breathing with a mouth mask, weakening their performance.
The theory that wearing a mouth mask for a long time would contribute to an increased CO2 concentration and a reduced oxygen concentration in the blood is disproved by WHO. Mouth masks are unpleasant, and some people may perceive them as claustrophobic, but they do not fit tightly enough to the face to cause an accumulation of CO2 in the blood.
Microbenfabriek
But what if you do not play sports? Is such a warm cloth cloth for your mouth safe when your breath, saliva, nasal mucus and sweat get free? The few studies available show that prolonged and misuse of mostly cotton mouth masks is harmful. We put them in our pocket, constantly fiddling with our hands, wear them too long and wash them too little and not thoroughly enough. And that way, it will become the hotbed of bacteria.
This also shows recent research by the Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology lab of the University of Antwerp at. Professor Sarah Lebeer's research team discovered in June that cloth mouth masks after four hours of wearing contain 10 to 20 times more bacteria than surgical masks due to the higher humidity level of the material used in the fabric masks. Surgical masks did better because they are made of more absorbent material, always contain a filter and are used only once.
'Moisture and nutritional residues in saliva stimulate the spread of microorganisms, causing bacteria and fungi to multiply on the mask without the need for a host, 'explains Lebeer. “Viruses do not spread without a host, but will accumulate on each breath and every droplet of saliva on the mask with all the risks associated with. The general rule is: the longer you wear it, the more careful you need to be.
In addition, the identified bacteria from the study appear to be resistant to the antibiotics erythromycin and ampicillin. Almost 50 percent of isolated bacteria had antibiotic resistance to at least one of these antibiotics.
Lebeer considers a major cause for concern. 'Antibiotic resistance is a big problem. Because antibiotics are so widespread, everyone carries some resistant bacteria in them, but in normal circumstances they are suppressed by the immune system. Introducing the mouth mask on such a large scale is something to think about in the light of the antibiotic crisis.
Sick of your mouth mask?
Although the microorganisms on the masks are not immediately life-threatening, they may well make you sick, Lebeer suspects. At a next stage of the study, she intends to examine the exact health consequences.
“It's a misconception that you can not get sick of your own bacteria. Many diseases are caused by dysbiosis or a disturbance in the balance of your microbiome. For example, we found quite a few staphylococci, which, among other things, are responsible for acute sinusitis and skin infections such as acne. That, of course, is not fatal like covid-19, but it is a focus for people who are already weakened.
Staphylococci are usually suppressed in the nose and mouth by all other bacteria or by your immune system. On a mouth mask this is not the case. It is not unthinkable that staphylococci that grow outside the body to a certain concentration, can make you sick.
Compulsing the mouth mask on a wide scale, as the Province of Antwerp does, Lebeer does not find a good thing. She pleads for a more thoughtful strategy. 'Many people are unaware of what they are touching, which increases the risk of contamination.
'Because we still know too little about biosafety, I do not recommend the dust mask if you walk or cycle outdoors. Only indoors, in crowded places when the distance is not guaranteed or if ventilation is not possible, it can be useful. Opening windows, washing hands frequently and disinfecting surfaces are more effective safety precautions.
According to Lebeer, the obligation to carry a mouth mask is more of a psychological issue. 'The mouth mask duty is a very visible measure. It makes people aware that the virus is still out there. But normally you only set up such protection when there is a risk of exposure, such as hospitals, general practitioners and public transport.
'It is understandable and clear that the government uses the precautionary principle and now recommends the mouth mask in public places, but on the basis of biosecurity I ask myself questions. The mouth mask might do more harm than good. And we don't think too much about that.”
Sports with mask
If you suffer from asthma or are insufficiently trained, playing with a surgical or fabric mouth mask is not a good idea. On that, experts sometimes seem to. The World Health Organization (WHO) even recommends them completely and believes that keeping distance during sports is more important as a preventive measure. If you can breathe harder, the risk of hyperventilation, dizziness and fainting increases. Even trained athletes are hampered in their breathing with a mouth mask, weakening their performance.
The theory that wearing a mouth mask for a long time would contribute to an increased CO2 concentration and a reduced oxygen concentration in the blood is disproved by WHO. Mouth masks are unpleasant, and some people may perceive them as claustrophobic, but they do not fit tightly enough to the face to cause an accumulation of CO2 in the blood.
Microbenfabriek
But what if you do not play sports? Is such a warm cloth cloth for your mouth safe when your breath, saliva, nasal mucus and sweat get free? The few studies available show that prolonged and misuse of mostly cotton mouth masks is harmful. We put them in our pocket, constantly fiddling with our hands, wear them too long and wash them too little and not thoroughly enough. And that way, it will become the hotbed of bacteria.
This also shows recent research by the Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology lab of the University of Antwerp at. Professor Sarah Lebeer's research team discovered in June that cloth mouth masks after four hours of wearing contain 10 to 20 times more bacteria than surgical masks due to the higher humidity level of the material used in the fabric masks. Surgical masks did better because they are made of more absorbent material, always contain a filter and are used only once.
'Moisture and nutritional residues in saliva stimulate the spread of microorganisms, causing bacteria and fungi to multiply on the mask without the need for a host, 'explains Lebeer. “Viruses do not spread without a host, but will accumulate on each breath and every droplet of saliva on the mask with all the risks associated with. The general rule is: the longer you wear it, the more careful you need to be.
In addition, the identified bacteria from the study appear to be resistant to the antibiotics erythromycin and ampicillin. Almost 50 percent of isolated bacteria had antibiotic resistance to at least one of these antibiotics.
Lebeer considers a major cause for concern. 'Antibiotic resistance is a big problem. Because antibiotics are so widespread, everyone carries some resistant bacteria in them, but in normal circumstances they are suppressed by the immune system. Introducing the mouth mask on such a large scale is something to think about in the light of the antibiotic crisis.
Sick of your mouth mask?
Although the microorganisms on the masks are not immediately life-threatening, they may well make you sick, Lebeer suspects. At a next stage of the study, she intends to examine the exact health consequences.
“It's a misconception that you can not get sick of your own bacteria. Many diseases are caused by dysbiosis or a disturbance in the balance of your microbiome. For example, we found quite a few staphylococci, which, among other things, are responsible for acute sinusitis and skin infections such as acne. That, of course, is not fatal like covid-19, but it is a focus for people who are already weakened.
Staphylococci are usually suppressed in the nose and mouth by all other bacteria or by your immune system. On a mouth mask this is not the case. It is not unthinkable that staphylococci that grow outside the body to a certain concentration, can make you sick.
Compulsing the mouth mask on a wide scale, as the Province of Antwerp does, Lebeer does not find a good thing. She pleads for a more thoughtful strategy. 'Many people are unaware of what they are touching, which increases the risk of contamination.
'Because we still know too little about biosafety, I do not recommend the dust mask if you walk or cycle outdoors. Only indoors, in crowded places when the distance is not guaranteed or if ventilation is not possible, it can be useful. Opening windows, washing hands frequently and disinfecting surfaces are more effective safety precautions.
According to Lebeer, the obligation to carry a mouth mask is more of a psychological issue. 'The mouth mask duty is a very visible measure. It makes people aware that the virus is still out there. But normally you only set up such protection when there is a risk of exposure, such as hospitals, general practitioners and public transport.
'It is understandable and clear that the government uses the precautionary principle and now recommends the mouth mask in public places, but on the basis of biosecurity I ask myself questions. The mouth mask might do more harm than good. And we don't think too much about that.”
Source:
2
- Report this post
