As per FDA regulation, surgical masks and surgical N95 respirators can be used differently based on their intended use.
N95 is made of 5 layers, while the surgical mask is made of 3 layers. Ideally, both of the masks are made of PP non-woven spun bond and melt-blown fabric, and additionally N95 may also have a cotton layer. The similarities between surgical masks and surgical N95s are:
• They are tested for fluid resistance, filtration efficiency (particulate filtration efficiency and bacterial filtration efficiency), flammability, and biocompatibility.
• They should not be shared or reused.
As per recent research, conflicting recommendations exist related to which facial protection should be used by healthcare workers to prevent transmission of acute respiratory infections, including pandemic influenza. A systematic review performed of both clinical and surrogate exposure data comparing N95 respirators and surgical masks for the prevention of transmissible acute respiratory infections indicated that there is no massive change in the degree of effectiveness.