The surgical mask is a disposable medical device that protects you f rom infect ious agents t ransmi t ted through droplets. These are present in secret ions of the nose and mouth and emanated during normal breathing, when speaking, and in large quant i t ies when coughing or sneezing It l imi ts the spread of potent ial ly infect ious par t icles into the envi ronment by blocking at least 95% of the outgoing vi ruses. In the absence of a f i l ter ing funct ion in the inspi ratory phase, the surgical mask is not ef f icient for smal l par t icles dispersed in the ai r (aerosol ) .
Surgical masks are used according to the direction of exhalation: from the inside out and according to the efficiency of bacterial filtration (BFE). Their main function is to protect other people from infecting through saliva droplets or from secretions of the respiratory tract