Universal Mask Usage for Reduction of Respiratory Viral Infections After Stem Cell Transplant: A Prospective Trial

Overview

Journal Clin Infect Dis

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2016 Aug 3

PMID 27481873

Citations 31

Authors

Anthony D Sung

Julia A M Sung

Samantha Thomas

Terry Hyslop

Cristina Gasparetto

Gwynn Long

David Rizzieri

Keith M Sullivan

Kelly Corbet

Gloria Broadwater

Nelson J Chao

Mitchell E Horwitz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Respiratory viral infections (RVIs) are frequent complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Surgical masks are a simple and inexpensive intervention that may reduce nosocomial spread.

Methods: In this prospective single-center study, we instituted a universal surgical mask policy requiring all individuals with direct contact with HSCT patients to wear a surgical mask, regardless of symptoms or season. The primary endpoint was the incidence of RVIs in the mask period (2010-2014) compared with the premask period (2003-2009).

Results: RVIs decreased from 10.3% (95/920 patients) in the premask period to 4.4% (40/911) in the mask period (P < .001). Significant decreases occurred after both allogeneic (64/378 [16.9%] to 24/289 [8.3%], P = .001) and autologous (31/542 [5.7%] to 16/622 [2.6%], P = .007) transplants. After adjusting for multiple covariates including season and year in a segmented longitudinal analysis, the decrease in RVIs remained significant, with risk of RVI of 0.4 in patients in the mask group compared with the premask group (0.19-0.85, P = .02). In contrast, no decrease was observed during this same period in an adjacent hematologic malignancy unit, which followed the same infection control practices except for the mask policy. The majority of this decrease was in parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV3) (8.3% to 2.2%, P < .001).

Conclusions: Requiring all individuals with direct patient contact to wear a surgical mask is associated with a reduction in RVIs, particularly PIV3, during the most vulnerable period following HSCT.

Citing Articles

Effect of Universal Masking on Non-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Healthcare-Associated Respiratory Viral Infections.

Munigala S, Ching P, Wood H, Waken R, Fox J, Gasama H Open Forum Infect Dis. 2024; 11(10):ofae617.

PMID: 39474447 PMC: 11521325. DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae617.

Consistent FFP2-masking as part of reducing viral respiratory infections on medical wards for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Richardson T, Schutte D, Feyer K, Grass L, Hallek M, Scheid C Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):21481.

PMID: 39277641 PMC: 11401884. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72646-y.

Morbidity and Mortality of Hospital-Onset SARS-CoV-2 Infections Due to Omicron Versus Prior Variants : A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Klompas M, McKenna C, Kanjilal S, Pak T, Rhee C, Chen T Ann Intern Med. 2024; 177(8):1078-1088.

PMID: 39008853 PMC: 11822919. DOI: 10.7326/M24-0199.

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated Events, and Nosocomial Respiratory Viral Infections on the Leeside of the Pandemic.

Klompas M Respir Care. 2024; 69(7):854-868.

PMID: 38806219 PMC: 11285502. DOI: 10.4187/respcare.11961.

[Positioning proposal on the recommendations for the use of masks in health centers after the cessation of the mandatory use in Spain].

Gras Valenti P, Sanchez Paya J, Rodriguez Diaz J, Llorens Soriano P, Merino Lucas E, Chico Sanchez P Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2024; 98.

PMID: 38333916 PMC: 11571762.

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