Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Share by Email
Print
Observations of 2 hygiene protocols undertaken by hospital staff found that the “Masks Save Lives” campaign is highly effective in preventing nosocomial influenza infection in clinical settings, according to data presented at American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Microbe 2019 held from June 20-24, 2019 in San Francisco, California.
In 2018, the “Masks Save Lives” campaign was introduced in the study hospital and required that members of staff from wards with >2 patients with influenza wear a surgical mask for the entirety of their shift. Data on diagnosed influenza A/B, the rate of nosocomial infections, and mortality were collected and compared with data from the 2015 influenza season from the same facility. Standard hygienic protocols in line with official recommendations were used in 2015, when masks were only used in front patients.
In 2018, a total of 365 patients with influenza A/B were included and compared with 271 patients from 2015. The rate of influenza A and B nosocomial infections decreased from 2015 to 2018: 22.5% vs 8.4% (P <.005) and 11.1% vs. 5.7% (P =.116), respectively. A mean reduction of 62% was observed when masks were used during the whole shift and there were no deaths from a nosocomial infection in 2018 compared with 7 (12%) in 2015 (P =.048).
Investigators concluded that the “Masks Save Lives” protocol was effective and that these observations highlight the role of hospital staff in the transmission of nosocomial influenza. This is important as it is not accounted for by official influenza management recommendations.
Reference
Ambrosch A, KLawonn F. A ‘Masks Saves Lives’ campaign effectively prevents nosocomial influenza A/B. Presented at: ASM Microbe 2019; June 20-24, 2019; San Francisco, California. Poster P449.
