When should a respirator (N95) be used instead of a surgical mask?

A respirator, specifically an N95 mask, should be used when dealing with airborne precautions due to its ability to filter out at least 95% of airborne particles, including those that are smaller than 5 microns in diameter. This is particularly important when caring for patients known or suspected to have diseases transmitted through the airborne route, such as tuberculosis, measles, or COVID-19.

In contrast, surgical masks are primarily designed to protect the patient from the healthcare provider's respiratory secretions and to help prevent the spread of droplets, which are larger than 5 microns. They do not provide the same level of filtration as N95 respirators, especially for small airborne particles.

Using an N95 respirator in situations necessitating airborne precautions is crucial for protecting both healthcare personnel and patients. This ensures that potentially infectious agents dispersed in the air are effectively filtered out, thus reducing the risk of transmission in clinical settings.