Tags

Type your tag names separated by a space and hit enter

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by aerosols, the rational use of masks, and protection of healthcare workers from COVID-19.
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2020 07 06; 9(1):100.AR

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

To determine the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by aerosols, to provide evidence on the rational use of masks, and to discuss additional measures important for the protection of healthcare workers from COVID-19.

METHODS

Literature review and expert opinion.

SHORT CONCLUSION

SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing COVID-19, is considered to be transmitted via droplets rather than aerosols, but droplets with strong directional airflow support may spread further than 2 m. High rates of COVID-19 infections in healthcare-workers (HCWs) have been reported from several countries. Respirators such as filtering face piece (FFP) 2 masks were designed to protect HCWs, while surgical masks were originally intended to protect patients (e.g., during surgery). Nevertheless, high quality standard surgical masks (type II/IIR according to European Norm EN 14683) appear to be as effective as FFP2 masks in preventing droplet-associated viral infections of HCWs as reported from influenza or SARS. So far, no head-to-head trials with these masks have been published for COVID-19. Neither mask type completely prevents transmission, which may be due to inappropriate handling and alternative transmission pathways. Therefore, compliance with a bundle of infection control measures including thorough hand hygiene is key. During high-risk procedures, both droplets and aerosols may be produced, reason why respirators are indicated for these interventions.

Links

PMC Free PDF

Authors+Show Affiliations

Sommerstein R
Department of Infectious, Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, Freiburgstrasse, 3010, Bern, Switzerland. rami.sommerstein@insel.ch. Swissnoso, the National Center for Infection Control, Bern, Switzerland. rami.sommerstein@insel.ch.
Fux CA
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, Aarau Cantonal Hospital, Aarau, Switzerland.
Vuichard-Gysin D
Swissnoso, the National Center for Infection Control, Bern, Switzerland. Department of Infectious Diseases, Thurgau Cantonal Hospital, Thurgau, Switzerland.
Abbas M
Infection Control Programme and Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
Marschall J
Department of Infectious, Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, Freiburgstrasse, 3010, Bern, Switzerland. Swissnoso, the National Center for Infection Control, Bern, Switzerland.
Balmelli C
Swissnoso, the National Center for Infection Control, Bern, Switzerland. Infection Control Programme, EOC Hospitals, Ticino, Switzerland.
Troillet N
Swissnoso, the National Center for Infection Control, Bern, Switzerland. Service of Infectious Diseases, Central Institute, Valais Hospitals, Sion, Switzerland.
Harbarth S
Swissnoso, the National Center for Infection Control, Bern, Switzerland. Infection Control Programme and Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
Schlegel M
Swissnoso, the National Center for Infection Control, Bern, Switzerland. Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Widmer A
Swissnoso, the National Center for Infection Control, Bern, Switzerland. Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Swissnoso
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AerosolsAir MicrobiologyBetacoronavirusCOVID-19Coronavirus InfectionsHealth PersonnelHumansInfectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-ProfessionalPandemicsPneumonia, ViralProtective DevicesSARS-CoV-2

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

32631450

Citation

Sommerstein, Rami, et al. "Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission By Aerosols, the Rational Use of Masks, and Protection of Healthcare Workers From COVID-19." Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, vol. 9, no. 1, 2020, p. 100.
Sommerstein R, Fux CA, Vuichard-Gysin D, et al. Risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by aerosols, the rational use of masks, and protection of healthcare workers from COVID-19. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2020;9(1):100.
Sommerstein, R., Fux, C. A., Vuichard-Gysin, D., Abbas, M., Marschall, J., Balmelli, C., Troillet, N., Harbarth, S., Schlegel, M., & Widmer, A. (2020). Risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by aerosols, the rational use of masks, and protection of healthcare workers from COVID-19. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 9(1), 100. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-020-00763-0
Sommerstein R, et al. Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission By Aerosols, the Rational Use of Masks, and Protection of Healthcare Workers From COVID-19. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2020 07 6;9(1):100. PubMed PMID: 32631450.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by aerosols, the rational use of masks, and protection of healthcare workers from COVID-19. AU - Sommerstein,Rami, AU - Fux,Christoph Andreas, AU - Vuichard-Gysin,Danielle, AU - Abbas,Mohamed, AU - Marschall,Jonas, AU - Balmelli,Carlo, AU - Troillet,Nicolas, AU - Harbarth,Stephan, AU - Schlegel,Matthias, AU - Widmer,Andreas, AU - ,, Y1 - 2020/07/06/ PY - 2020/05/18/received PY - 2020/06/23/accepted PY - 2020/7/8/entrez PY - 2020/7/8/pubmed PY - 2020/7/16/medline KW - Aerosol KW - COVID-19 KW - Droplet KW - Infection control KW - Mask KW - SARS-CoV-2 KW - Transmission SP - 100 EP - 100 JF - Antimicrobial resistance and infection control JO - Antimicrob Resist Infect Control VL - 9 IS - 1 N2 - OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by aerosols, to provide evidence on the rational use of masks, and to discuss additional measures important for the protection of healthcare workers from COVID-19. METHODS: Literature review and expert opinion. SHORT CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing COVID-19, is considered to be transmitted via droplets rather than aerosols, but droplets with strong directional airflow support may spread further than 2 m. High rates of COVID-19 infections in healthcare-workers (HCWs) have been reported from several countries. Respirators such as filtering face piece (FFP) 2 masks were designed to protect HCWs, while surgical masks were originally intended to protect patients (e.g., during surgery). Nevertheless, high quality standard surgical masks (type II/IIR according to European Norm EN 14683) appear to be as effective as FFP2 masks in preventing droplet-associated viral infections of HCWs as reported from influenza or SARS. So far, no head-to-head trials with these masks have been published for COVID-19. Neither mask type completely prevents transmission, which may be due to inappropriate handling and alternative transmission pathways. Therefore, compliance with a bundle of infection control measures including thorough hand hygiene is key. During high-risk procedures, both droplets and aerosols may be produced, reason why respirators are indicated for these interventions. SN - 2047-2994 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/32631450/Risk_of_SARS_CoV_2_transmission_by_aerosols_the_rational_use_of_masks_and_protection_of_healthcare_workers_from_COVID_19_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -