Face Mask Use and Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission in Households
Many countries are stockpiling face masks for use as a nonpharmaceutical intervention to control virus transmission during an influenza pandemic. We conducted a prospective cluster-randomized trial comparing surgical masks, non–fit-tested P2 masks, and no masks in prevention of influenza-like illnes...
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2009-02-01
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Online Access: | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/15/2/08-1167_article |
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doaj-5d82e67f12964d048472759f799cdb802020-11-25T00:46:37ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592009-02-0115223324110.3201/eid1502.081167Face Mask Use and Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission in HouseholdsC. Raina MacIntyreSimon CauchemezDominic E. DwyerHolly SealePamela CheungGary BrowneMichael FasherJames WoodZhanhai GaoRobert BooyNeil FergusonMany countries are stockpiling face masks for use as a nonpharmaceutical intervention to control virus transmission during an influenza pandemic. We conducted a prospective cluster-randomized trial comparing surgical masks, non–fit-tested P2 masks, and no masks in prevention of influenza-like illness (ILI) in households. Mask use adherence was self-reported. During the 2006 and 2007 winter seasons, 286 exposed adults from 143 households who had been exposed to a child with clinical respiratory illness were recruited. We found that adherence to mask use significantly reduced the risk for ILI-associated infection, but <50% of participants wore masks most of the time. We concluded that household use of face masks is associated with low adherence and is ineffective for controlling seasonal respiratory disease. However, during a severe pandemic when use of face masks might be greater, pandemic transmission in households could be reduced.
Many countries are stockpiling face masks for use as nonpharmaceutical interventions to reduce viral transmission during an influenza pandemic. We conducted a prospective cluster-randomized trial comparing surgical masks, non–fit-tested P2 masks, and no masks in prevention of influenza-like illness (ILI) in households. During the 2006 and 2007 winter seasons, 286 exposed adults from 143 households who had been exposed to a child with clinical respiratory illness were recruited. Intent-to-treat analysis showed no significant difference in the relative risk of ILI in the mask use groups compared with the control group; however, <50% of those in the mask use groups reported wearing masks most of the time. Adherence to mask use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of ILI-associated infection. We concluded that household use of masks is associated with low adherence and is ineffective in controlling seasonal ILI. If adherence were greater, mask use might reduce transmission during a severe influenza pandemic.https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/15/2/08-1167_articleMasksrespiratory virusesinfluenzainfection controlcommunityhousehold |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
C. Raina MacIntyre Simon Cauchemez Dominic E. Dwyer Holly Seale Pamela Cheung Gary Browne Michael Fasher James Wood Zhanhai Gao Robert Booy Neil Ferguson |
spellingShingle |
C. Raina MacIntyre Simon Cauchemez Dominic E. Dwyer Holly Seale Pamela Cheung Gary Browne Michael Fasher James Wood Zhanhai Gao Robert Booy Neil Ferguson Face Mask Use and Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission in Households Emerging Infectious Diseases Masks respiratory viruses influenza infection control community household |
author_facet |
C. Raina MacIntyre Simon Cauchemez Dominic E. Dwyer Holly Seale Pamela Cheung Gary Browne Michael Fasher James Wood Zhanhai Gao Robert Booy Neil Ferguson |
author_sort |
C. Raina MacIntyre |
title |
Face Mask Use and Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission in Households |
title_short |
Face Mask Use and Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission in Households |
title_full |
Face Mask Use and Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission in Households |
title_fullStr |
Face Mask Use and Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission in Households |
title_full_unstemmed |
Face Mask Use and Control of Respiratory Virus Transmission in Households |
title_sort |
face mask use and control of respiratory virus transmission in households |
publisher |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
series |
Emerging Infectious Diseases |
issn |
1080-6040 1080-6059 |
publishDate |
2009-02-01 |
description |
Many countries are stockpiling face masks for use as a nonpharmaceutical intervention to control virus transmission during an influenza pandemic. We conducted a prospective cluster-randomized trial comparing surgical masks, non–fit-tested P2 masks, and no masks in prevention of influenza-like illness (ILI) in households. Mask use adherence was self-reported. During the 2006 and 2007 winter seasons, 286 exposed adults from 143 households who had been exposed to a child with clinical respiratory illness were recruited. We found that adherence to mask use significantly reduced the risk for ILI-associated infection, but <50% of participants wore masks most of the time. We concluded that household use of face masks is associated with low adherence and is ineffective for controlling seasonal respiratory disease. However, during a severe pandemic when use of face masks might be greater, pandemic transmission in households could be reduced.
Many countries are stockpiling face masks for use as nonpharmaceutical interventions to reduce viral transmission during an influenza pandemic. We conducted a prospective cluster-randomized trial comparing surgical masks, non–fit-tested P2 masks, and no masks in prevention of influenza-like illness (ILI) in households. During the 2006 and 2007 winter seasons, 286 exposed adults from 143 households who had been exposed to a child with clinical respiratory illness were recruited. Intent-to-treat analysis showed no significant difference in the relative risk of ILI in the mask use groups compared with the control group; however, <50% of those in the mask use groups reported wearing masks most of the time. Adherence to mask use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of ILI-associated infection. We concluded that household use of masks is associated with low adherence and is ineffective in controlling seasonal ILI. If adherence were greater, mask use might reduce transmission during a severe influenza pandemic. |
topic |
Masks respiratory viruses influenza infection control community household |
url |
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/15/2/08-1167_article |
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