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

Publication ,  Journal Article
Sung, AD; Sung, JAM; Thomas, S; Hyslop, T; Gasparetto, C; Long, G; Rizzieri, D; Sullivan, KM; Corbet, K; Broadwater, G; Chao, NJ; Horwitz, ME
Published in: Clin Infect Dis
October 15, 2016

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.

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Published In

Clin Infect Dis

DOI

EISSN

1537-6591

Publication Date

October 15, 2016

Volume

63

Issue

8

Start / End Page

999 / 1006

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Seasons
  • Respiratory Tract Infections
  • Middle Aged
  • Microbiology
  • Masks
  • Male
  • Infection Control
  • Incidence
  • Immunocompromised Host
 

Citation

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Sung, A. D., Sung, J. A. M., Thomas, S., Hyslop, T., Gasparetto, C., Long, G., … Horwitz, M. E. (2016). Universal Mask Usage for Reduction of Respiratory Viral Infections After Stem Cell Transplant: A Prospective Trial. Clin Infect Dis, 63(8), 999–1006. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciw451
Sung, Anthony D., Julia A. M. Sung, Samantha Thomas, Terry Hyslop, Cristina Gasparetto, Gwynn Long, David Rizzieri, et al. “Universal Mask Usage for Reduction of Respiratory Viral Infections After Stem Cell Transplant: A Prospective Trial.Clin Infect Dis 63, no. 8 (October 15, 2016): 999–1006. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciw451.
Sung AD, Sung JAM, Thomas S, Hyslop T, Gasparetto C, Long G, et al. Universal Mask Usage for Reduction of Respiratory Viral Infections After Stem Cell Transplant: A Prospective Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2016 Oct 15;63(8):999–1006.
Sung, Anthony D., et al. “Universal Mask Usage for Reduction of Respiratory Viral Infections After Stem Cell Transplant: A Prospective Trial.Clin Infect Dis, vol. 63, no. 8, Oct. 2016, pp. 999–1006. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/cid/ciw451.
Sung AD, Sung JAM, Thomas S, Hyslop T, Gasparetto C, Long G, Rizzieri D, Sullivan KM, Corbet K, Broadwater G, Chao NJ, Horwitz ME. Universal Mask Usage for Reduction of Respiratory Viral Infections After Stem Cell Transplant: A Prospective Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2016 Oct 15;63(8):999–1006.
Journal cover image

Published In

Clin Infect Dis

DOI

EISSN

1537-6591

Publication Date

October 15, 2016

Volume

63

Issue

8

Start / End Page

999 / 1006

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Seasons
  • Respiratory Tract Infections
  • Middle Aged
  • Microbiology
  • Masks
  • Male
  • Infection Control
  • Incidence
  • Immunocompromised Host