Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses: systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To systematically review evidence for the effectiveness of physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.

Data extraction

Search strategy of the Cochrane Library, Medline, OldMedline, Embase, and CINAHL, without language restriction, for any intervention to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses (isolation, quarantine, social distancing, barriers, personal protection, and hygiene). Study designs were randomised trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and controlled before and after studies.

Data synthesis

Of 2300 titles scanned 138 full papers were retrieved, including 49 papers of 51 studies. Study quality was poor for the three randomised controlled trials and most of the cluster randomised controlled trials; th

SUBMITTER: Jefferson T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2190272 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature