Are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients? a Systematic review

Background: The use of facemasks for infection prevention has become widely accepted. Current recommendations include influenza patients wearing a mask in a medical setting. Here we systematically reviewed randomized control trials on mask efficacy in index influenza patients to prevent transmission...

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Main Authors: Halie N. Burdick, Howard Maibach
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-11-01
Series:Clinical Infection in Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590170221000340
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author Halie N. Burdick
Howard Maibach
author_facet Halie N. Burdick
Howard Maibach
author_sort Halie N. Burdick
collection DOAJ
description Background: The use of facemasks for infection prevention has become widely accepted. Current recommendations include influenza patients wearing a mask in a medical setting. Here we systematically reviewed randomized control trials on mask efficacy in index influenza patients to prevent transmission. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched and articles were included if they fit the criteria of 1) randomized control trial, 2) influenza, 3) mask efficacy, 4) influenza patients with masks for source control, 5) in vivo, and 6) article was in English. Results: The results point to no difference in influenza transmission between medical mask and control groups. However, there have been several attempts at explaining this finding. Conclusion: This review found there were few studies and weak supporting evidence for mask recommendations. We hope for larger, randomized control trials in the hospital setting that evaluate the efficacy of masks as a means of source control in influenza infected patients.
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spelling doaj.art-e5c182f0dff04058afd128f1b26d5d9c2022-12-21T23:19:15ZengElsevierClinical Infection in Practice2590-17022021-11-0112100097Are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients? a Systematic reviewHalie N. Burdick0Howard Maibach1University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, 1400 W. 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, United States of America; Corresponding author.University of California, School of Medicine Dermatology Department, San Francisco, CA, 94143, United States of AmericaBackground: The use of facemasks for infection prevention has become widely accepted. Current recommendations include influenza patients wearing a mask in a medical setting. Here we systematically reviewed randomized control trials on mask efficacy in index influenza patients to prevent transmission. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched and articles were included if they fit the criteria of 1) randomized control trial, 2) influenza, 3) mask efficacy, 4) influenza patients with masks for source control, 5) in vivo, and 6) article was in English. Results: The results point to no difference in influenza transmission between medical mask and control groups. However, there have been several attempts at explaining this finding. Conclusion: This review found there were few studies and weak supporting evidence for mask recommendations. We hope for larger, randomized control trials in the hospital setting that evaluate the efficacy of masks as a means of source control in influenza infected patients.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590170221000340MaskEfficacyInfluenzaSource Control
spellingShingle Halie N. Burdick
Howard Maibach
Are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients? a Systematic review
Clinical Infection in Practice
Mask
Efficacy
Influenza
Source Control
title Are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients? a Systematic review
title_full Are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients? a Systematic review
title_fullStr Are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients? a Systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients? a Systematic review
title_short Are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients? a Systematic review
title_sort are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients a systematic review
topic Mask
Efficacy
Influenza
Source Control
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590170221000340
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