A close shave? Performance of P2/N95 respirators in healthcare workers with facial hair: results of the BEARDS (BEnchmarking Adequate Respiratory DefenceS) study

Sandaradura, Indy; Goeman, Emma; Pontivivo, Giulietta; Fine, Ellen; Gray, Herman; Kerr, Stephen J.; Marriott, Debbie; Harkness, John; Andresen, David

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.01.006

Cited by 56 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Besides, with greater demand for masks in many countries, more sophisticated masks have been experimented by various researchers (Balachandar et al, 2020;Leung and Sun, 2020). Surgical masks and N95 respirators are very popular and ubiquitous among millions of people worldwide as the PPE for COVID-19, but surgical masks are believed to be not preventing aerosol transmission, and N95 respirators are recognized to be preventing aerosol and droplet transmission (Derrick and Gomersall, 2005;Sandaradura et al, 2020).…”

Section: Safeguards Against Transmission Of Droplets and Aerosolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission of COVID-19 virus by droplets and aerosols: A critical review on the unresolved dichotomy

Jayaweera

Perera

Gunawardana

et al. 2020

Environmental Research

1,135

937

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The practice of social distancing and wearing masks has been popular worldwide in combating the contraction of COVID-19. Undeniably, although such practices help control the COVID-19 pandemic to a greater extent, the complete control of virus-laden droplet and aerosol transmission by such practices is poorly understood. This review paper intends to outline the literature concerning the transmission of virus-laden droplets and aerosols in different environmental settings and demonstrates the behavior of droplets and aerosols resulted from a coughjet of an infected person in various confined spaces. The case studies that have come out in different countries have, with prima facie evidence, manifested that the airborne transmission plays a profound role in contracting susceptible hosts. The infection propensities in confined spaces (airplane, passenger car, and healthcare center) by the transmission of droplets and aerosols under varying ventilation conditions were discussed. Interestingly, the nosocomial transmission by airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus-laden aerosols in healthcare facilities may be plausible. Hence, clearly defined, science-based administrative, clinical, and physical measures are of paramount importance to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic from the world.

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Section: Safeguards Against Transmission Of Droplets and Aerosolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission of COVID-19 virus by droplets and aerosols: A critical review on the unresolved dichotomy

Jayaweera

Perera

Gunawardana

et al. 2020

Environmental Research

1,135

937

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The N95 masks offer a better protection as long as they fit properly. It is worth noting that N95 masks are not suitable for people with facial hair [95].…”

Section: Protective Measures To Prevent Spread Of the Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into the Recent 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Light of Past Human Coronavirus Outbreaks

et al. 2020

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Coronaviruses (CoVs) are RNA viruses that have become a major public health concern since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoV (SARS-CoV) outbreak in 2002. The continuous evolution of coronaviruses was further highlighted with the emergence of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-CoV (MERS-CoV) outbreak in 2012. Currently, the world is concerned about the 2019 novel CoV (SARS-CoV-2) that was initially identified in the city of Wuhan, China in December 2019. Patients presented with severe viral pneumonia and respiratory illness. The number of cases has been mounting since then. As of late February 2020, tens of thousands of cases and several thousand deaths have been reported in China alone, in addition to thousands of cases in other countries. Although the fatality rate of SARS-CoV-2 is currently lower than SARS-CoV, the virus seems to be highly contagious based on the number of infected cases to date. In this review, we discuss structure, genome organization, entry of CoVs into target cells, and provide insights into past and present outbreaks. The future of human CoV outbreaks will not only depend on how the viruses will evolve, but will also depend on how we develop efficient prevention and treatment strategies to deal with this continuous threat.

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“…Surgical masks are designed to protect wearers from microorganism transmission and fit loosely to the user's face. 5,6 Although surgical masks cannot prevent inhalation of small airborne particles, both of them can protect users from large droplets and sprays 7,8 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks against influenza: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Long

Liu

et al. 2020

J Evidence Based Medicine

317

290

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Objective: Previous meta-analyses concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine the effect of N95 respirators. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks for prevention of influenza by collecting randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods:We searched PubMed, EMbase and The Cochrane Library from the inception to January 27, 2020 to identify relevant systematic reviews. The RCTs included in systematic reviews were identified. Then we searched the latest published RCTs from the above three databases and searched ClinicalTrials.gov for unpublished RCTs. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed risk of bias. Meta-analyses were conducted to calculate pooled estimates by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results:A total of six RCTs involving 9 171 participants were included. There were no statistically significant differences in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza (RR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.92-1.28, P > .05), laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral infections (RR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.70-1.11), laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection (RR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.42-1.29) and influenzalike illness (RR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.33-1.14) using N95 respirators and surgical masks. Meta-analysis indicated a protective effect of N95 respirators against laboratory-confirmed bacterial colonization (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.43-0.78). Conclusion:The use of N95 respirators compared with surgical masks is not associated with a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza. It suggests that N95 respirators should not be recommended for general public and nonhigh-risk medical staff those are not in close contact with influenza patients or suspected patients.

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A close shave? Performance of P2/N95 respirators in healthcare workers with facial hair: results of the BEARDS (BEnchmarking Adequate Respiratory DefenceS) study

Cited by 56 publications

References 5 publications

Transmission of COVID-19 virus by droplets and aerosols: A critical review on the unresolved dichotomy

Transmission of COVID-19 virus by droplets and aerosols: A critical review on the unresolved dichotomy

Insights into the Recent 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Light of Past Human Coronavirus Outbreaks

Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks against influenza: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

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