ReviewAntimicrobial resistance and infection control2020
Risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by aerosols, the rational use of masks, and protection of healthcare workers from COVID-19.
Review in Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 110 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
110 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- SARS-CoV-2 pathophysiology and post-vaccination severity: a systematic review.Immunologic research · 2024Pooled it
- Can aerosols-generating dental, oral and maxillofacial, and orthopedic surgical procedures lead to disease transmission? An implication on the current COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in oral health · 2022Pooled it
- Protection From COVID-19–The Efficacy of Face Masks.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2021Pooled it
- The use of a surgical helmet system with a high-efficiency particulate air filter as possible protection equipment during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a double-blinded randomized control study.International orthopaedics · 2022Trial
- Comparison of intravascular access methods applied by nurses wearing personal protective equipment in simulated COVID-19 resuscitation: A randomized crossover simulation trial.The American journal of emergency medicine · 2021Trial
- Effect of guided imagery on anxiety, muscle pain, and vital signs in patients with COVID-19: A randomized controlled trial.Complementary therapies in clinical practice · 2021Trial
- Impact of an e-learning module on personal protective equipment knowledge in student paramedics: a randomized controlled trial.Antimicrobial resistance and infection control · 2020Trial
- Effectiveness of Personal Protective Equipment against Coronavirus Disease 2019 Transmission: A Case-Control Study.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2025Article
- Variation in the fitted filtration efficiency of disposable face masks by sex.Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology · 2025Article
- Uncovering hidden and complex relations of pandemic dynamics using an AI driven system.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Bacterial contamination potential of personal protective equipment itself in dental aerosol-producing treatments.Odontology · 2024Review
- Craniometric determinants of the fitted filtration efficiency of disposable masks.Frontiers in public health · 2024Observational
- Effect of Surgical Masks and N95 Respirators on Anxiety.Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment · 2024Article
- Comparison of the inward leakage rate between N95 filtering facepiece respirators and modified surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.Environmental health and preventive medicine · 2024Article
- Effects of N95 Masks on Cerebral Oxygen Saturation and End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure in Healthcare Workers.Anesthesiology and pain medicine · 2023Article
- Visualization of aerosol spread using a smoke tester during tracheal intubation performed in an operating room.GHM open · 2023Article
- The Biosafety Research Road Map: The Search for Evidence to Support Practices in the Laboratory-SARS-CoV-2.Applied biosafety : journal of the American Biological Safety Association · 2023Review
- Face Mask Use and Associated Factors Among Students: Mixed Methods Study.Interactive journal of medical research · 2023Article
- Influence of Face Masks on Physiological and Subjective Response during 130 Min of Simulated Light and Medium Physical Manual Work-An Explorative Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- SARS-CoV-2 Exposure from Health Care Workers to Infants: Effects and Outcomes.American journal of perinatology · 2023Article
50 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo 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.
methodsLiterature review and expert opinion. SHORT
conclusionSARS-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.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.