Surgical Masks Provide Source Control of Respiratory Viruses

Surgical face masks were found to reduce presence of influenza and coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets and aerosols from infected individuals.

The CDC has just recommended that the general U.S. population begin wearing cloth face coverings to decrease the community-based transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Two new studies provide some support for the CDC guidelines.

In the first, researchers at a Hong Kong hospital obtained nasal and throat swabs and respiratory droplet and aerosol samples from 246 individuals with presumed symptomatic acute respiratory viral infection seen year-round between March 2013 and May 2016. During a 30-minute collection of exhaled breaths when patients were breathing and coughing normally, 124 individuals were wearing a face mask and 122 were not; 49 provided second 30-minute samples of the alternate type.

By reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reacti…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Surgical Masks Provide Source Control of Respiratory Viruses

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Reviewing Author