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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-11-01
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Series: | Clinical Infection in Practice |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:11:30Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-e5c182f0dff04058afd128f1b26d5d9c |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2590-1702 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:11:30Z |
publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
publisher | Elsevier |
record_format | Article |
series | Clinical Infection in Practice |
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 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT halienburdick aremaskseffectiveassourcecontrolinindexinfluenzapatientsasystematicreview AT howardmaibach aremaskseffectiveassourcecontrolinindexinfluenzapatientsasystematicreview |