Are Surgical Masks Adequate for Healthcare Workers Caring for Patients with COVID-19?

In a randomized trial, surgical masks were noninferior to fitted N95 respirators for inpatient healthcare workers.

Recommendations vary regarding type of mask worn by healthcare workers (HCWs) caring for inpatients with COVID-19. Now, researchers report results of a randomized, controlled, international trial of fitted N95 respirators versus surgical masks for HCWs.

The trial was conducted at 27 acute care hospitals and 2 long-term care facilities in 4 countries. Canadian centers enrolled about one quarter of the 1009 participants during the pre-Omicron era, and Egyptian centers enrolled just over half after Omicron emerged. During 10 weeks' follow-up, PCR-confirmed COVID-19 occurred in 52 of 497 HCWs (10.5%) wearing medical masks and 47 of 507 (9.3%) using N95 respirators. Thus, medical masks were shown to be noninferior. Significant effect heterogeneit…

Reviewing Author

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Are Surgical Masks Adequate for Healthcare Workers Caring for Patients with COVID-19?

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Reviewing Author