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Use of N95, Surgical, and Cloth Masks to Prevent COVID-19 in Health Care and Community Settings: Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians (Version 1)
Authors
Qaseem, AmirEtxeandia-Ikobaltzeta, Itziar
Yost, Jennifer
Miller, Matthew C.
Abraham, George M
Obley, Adam J.
Forciea, Mary Ann
Jokela, Janet A.
Humphrey, Linda L.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of MedicineDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2020-06-18Keywords
COVID-19PPE
personal protective equipment
N95 masks
surgical masks
cloth masks
Environmental Public Health
Equipment and Supplies
Health Services Administration
Infectious Disease
Patient Safety
Virus Diseases
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spreads among persons in close proximity through droplets, although evidence is still emerging regarding potential airborne transmission. Reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care and community settings is a major priority, especially in the absence of an effective vaccine or treatment. The use of respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE) may decrease the risk for respiratory infection, although controversy exists around the appropriate types of masks and the situations in which they should be used in community and health care settings for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The following practice points (Table 1) are intended for clinicians, patients, and the public. Data on SARS-CoV-2 are limited. These practice points are based on the best available evidence on the effectiveness of N95 respirators, surgical masks, and cloth masks in reducing transmission of infection with SARS-CoV-1, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and influenza-like or other respiratory viruses in community and health care settings. Evidence about reuse or extended use of N95 respirators in health care settings was also considered.Source
Qaseem A, Etxeandia-Ikobaltzeta I, Yost J, Miller MC, Abraham GM, Obley AJ, Forciea MA, Jokela JA, Humphrey LL. Use of N95, Surgical, and Cloth Masks to Prevent COVID-19 in Health Care and Community Settings: Living Practice Points From the American College of Physicians (Version 1). Ann Intern Med. 2020 Jun 18. doi: 10.7326/M20-3234. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32551813. Link to article on publisher's site
DOI
10.7326/M20-3234Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/27605PubMed ID
32551813Related Resources
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.7326/M20-3234