A quantitative assessment of the efficacy of surgical and N95 masks to filter influenza virus in patients with acute influenza infection.

Abstract

We assessed the in vivo efficacy of surgical and N95 (respirator) masks to filter reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-detectable virus when worn correctly by patients with laboratory-confirmed acute influenza. Of 26 patients with a clinical diagnosis of influenza, 19 had the diagnosis confirmed by RT-PCR, and 9 went on to complete the study. Surgical and N95 masks were equally effective in preventing the spread of PCR-detectable influenza.

• Authors: D F Johnson, J D Druce, C Birch, M L Grayson
• Journal: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Clin Infect Dis) Vol. 49 Issue 2 Pg. 275-7 (Jul 15 2009) ISSN: 1537-6591 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19522650 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• RNA, Viral

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Humans
• Influenza, Human (prevention & control, transmission)
• Middle Aged
• Orthomyxoviridae (isolation & purification)
• RNA, Viral (genetics)
• Respiratory Protective Devices
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Young Adult