What proportion of healthcare worker masks carry virus? A systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Concerns have been raised by healthcare organisations in New Zealand that routine mask use by healthcare workers (HCW) may increase the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through increased face touching. Routine mask use by frontline HCW was not recommended when seeing 'low risk' patients. The aim of this review was to determine the carriage of respiratory viruses on facemasks used by HCW.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted with structured searches of medical and allied health databases. Two authors independently screened articles for inclusion, with substantial agreement (k = 0.66, 95% CI 0.54-0.79). Studies that at least one author recommended for full text review were reviewed in full for inclusion. Two authors independently extracted data from included s

SUBMITTER: Jones P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7361325 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature