A systematic review of fit improvement strategies for respirators: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The use of respirators and masks has increased dramatically during outbreaks of respiratory infections, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Both filtration efficiency and respirator fit testing influence the provision of effective respiratory protection to users. If healthcare workers (HCWs) do not have access to tight-fitting N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) or if fit testing procedures are not feasible, some cost‒benefit fit improvement strategies (FISs) could benefit HCW respiratory protection against respiratory infection pandemics.

Objective

The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the importance of fit testing and to identify the optimal factors influencing respirator or mask fit characteristics, particularly in emergency situations.<

SUBMITTER: Fakherpour A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12755001 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature