Fabric cloth masks are widely used in developing countries to prevent the spread of infection from the wearer. However, there has not been much research on the efficacy of the fabric used to make cloth masks. This study examined the efficiency of seven types of the fabric used to make cloth masks (six types of cloth masks or laminate breathable filter and one type of surgical mask) commonly worn in the developing world. Three airborne transmitted bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes Group A, Corynebacterium diphtheria, Moraxella catarrhalis) and mixer of these 3 tested bacteria was used to assess facemask performance. The test results showed that the use of nano coated cloth together with a breathable filter has the best with filtration efficiency. When the fabric used to make each type of fabric mask is tested for antimicrobial activity, simulating a situation created in a laboratory is like a bacterial aerosol spreading through the air, falling onto the fabric over time (1, 3, 6, 24 h. after exposure) and mimic disk diffusion test were evaluated. The results showed that all of the fabric tested were not effective at inhibiting bacterial growth. There was no difference between the nano cloth and the other mask fabric. All results supported the use of double-layer fabric cloth and laminate breathable filter can prevent the spread of microbial aerosol from infections to the wearer and it must always be used in combination with other hygienic methods of prevention.

Fabric cloth masks are widely used in developing countries to prevent the spread of infection from the wearer. However, there has not been much research on the efficacy of the fabric used to make cloth masks. This study examined the efficiency of seven types of the fabric used to make cloth masks (six types of cloth masks or laminate breathable filter and one type of surgical mask) commonly worn in the developing world. Three airborne transmitted bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes Group A, Corynebacterium diphtheria, Moraxella catarrhalis) and mixer of these 3 tested bacteria was used to assess facemask performance. The test results showed that the use of nano coated cloth together with a breathable filter has the best with filtration efficiency. When the fabric used to make each type of fabric mask is tested for antimicrobial activity, simulating a situation created in a laboratory is like a bacterial aerosol spreading through the air, falling onto the fabric over time (1, 3, 6, 24 h. after exposure) and mimic disk diffusion test were evaluated. The results showed that all of the fabric tested were not effective at inhibiting bacterial growth. There was no difference between the nano cloth and the other mask fabric. All results supported the use of double-layer fabric cloth and laminate breathable filter can prevent the spread of microbial aerosol from infections to the wearer and it must always be used in combination with other hygienic methods of prevention.