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When originally introduced for use at the turn of the century, the primary function of the surgical mask was to prevent the migration of microorganisms residing in the nose and mouth of members of the operating team to the open wound of the patient. As technology developed new materials and designs, their filtering efficiencies gradually improved. However, there is no standard test method for assessing that capability, and its influence on the rates of surgical-wound infection has yet to be demonstrated. Quite to the contrary, both in-vitro and in-vivo studies indicate that a mask may not be universally necessary in today's surgical environment.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that the types and characteristics of personal protective equipment used "depend upon the task and degree of exposure anticipated." The level of protection required, therefore, is logically contingent upon the operative site, estimated blood loss, and duration of the procedure. However, more recent studies provide data that specifically identify the personnel and areas of the body that are most likely to become contaminated. This adds a new dimension to the procedure-oriented selection process that is worthy of consideration.