• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • 2MM Podcast
  • Write for us
  • Contact Us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Infectious Disease

N95 masks may have similar efficacy to medical masks for influenza prevention

byJason Nam, MDandDaniel Fisher
September 10, 2019
in Infectious Disease, Public Health
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. In this randomized controlled trial among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators were similar to medical masks for preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza.

2. N95 respirators and medical masks resulted in similar incidences of acute respiratory illness, laboratory-detected respiratory infections, laboratory-confirmed respiratory illnesses, and influenza-like illnesses.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown: Health care personnel (HCP) are routinely exposed to viral respiratory infections in the workplace. Some experts argue that N95 respirators and medical masks are equivalent in clinical settings, though this has yet to be demonstrated. In this randomized clinical trial of outpatient providers, there was no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza among HCP between N95 respirators and medical masks. Further, N95 respirator and medical mask groups had similar incidences of acute respiratory illness, laboratory-detected respiratory infections, laboratory-confirmed respiratory illness, and influenza-like illness.

Despite this study’s suggestion that these two preventative device are equivocal for influenza prophylaxis, this study has some notable limitations. Participants were not instructed to wear protective devices outside the workplace, which may have biased the results toward finding no difference between groups. Only two N95 respirator and medical mask models were studied, limiting the ability to generalize about the protectiveness of other models. Lastly, the sample size required to definitively determine whether N95 respirators or medical masks are more effective for protection from laboratory-confirmed influenza in the health care setting required significantly more participant seasons than was feasible in this study setting.

Click to read the study in JAMA

RELATED REPORTS

Single-dose baloxavir linked to reduced influenza transmission

#VisualAbstract: Baloxavir Treatment is Effective in Preventing Transmission of Influenza

#VisualAbstract: C-reactive Protein Testing in Primary Care Reduces Antibiotic Use in Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections

Relevant Reading: The efficacy of medical masks and respirators against respiratory infection in healthcare workers.

In-Depth [randomized controlled trial]: 1993 adult participants in 7 US healthcare delivery systems in 189 clusters were randomly assigned to wear N95 respirators (2512 HCP-seasons of observation), and 2058 adult HCPs in 191 clusters were randomly assigned to wear medical masks (2668 HCP-seasons) when near patients with respiratory illness. The primary outcome was the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza. Secondary outcomes included incidence of acute respiratory illness, laboratory-detected respiratory infections, laboratory-confirmed respiratory illness, and influenza-like illness. There were 207 laboratory-confirmed influenza infection events (8.2% of HCP-seasons) in the N95 respirator group and 193 (7.2% of HCP-seasons) in the medical mask group (difference 1.0%; CI95, −0.5% to 2.5%). There were 1556 acute respiratory illness events in the respirator group vs 1711 in the mask group (difference −21.9 per 1000 HCP-seasons; CI95, −48.2 to 4.4); 679 laboratory-detected respiratory infections in the respirator group vs 745 in the mask group (difference −8.9 per 1000 HCP-seasons; CI95, −33.3 to 15.4); 371 laboratory-confirmed respiratory illness events in the respirator group vs 417 in the mask group (difference −8.6 per 1000 HCP-seasons; CI95, −28.2 to 10.9); and 128 influenza-like illness events in the respirator group vs 166 in the mask group (difference −11.3 per 1000 HCP-seasons; CI95, −23.8 to 1.3).

Image: PD

©2019 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: influenzamedical masksN95respiratory infectionsupper respiratory tract infections
Previous Post

#VisualAbstract: Eculizumab in Aquaporin-4–Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder

Next Post

Quick Take: Differing risk of mortality in trauma patients with stab wounds to the torso: treating hospital matters

RelatedReports

Influenza vaccine associated with lower risk of major cardiovascular events
Infectious Disease

Single-dose baloxavir linked to reduced influenza transmission

May 20, 2025
#VisualAbstract: Baloxavir Treatment is Effective in Preventing Transmission of Influenza
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract: Baloxavir Treatment is Effective in Preventing Transmission of Influenza

May 5, 2025
#VisualAbstract: C-reactive Protein Testing in Primary Care Reduces Antibiotic Use in Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract: C-reactive Protein Testing in Primary Care Reduces Antibiotic Use in Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections

January 23, 2025
Influenza vaccine not associated with increased risk of epilepsy in children
Infectious Disease

Influenza vaccination may reduce secondary infection spread amongst household contacts

December 1, 2024
Next Post
Quick Take: Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia versus thoracic epidural analgesia after open liver surgery

Quick Take: Differing risk of mortality in trauma patients with stab wounds to the torso: treating hospital matters

#VisualAbstract: Effect of Continuing Olanzapine vs Placebo on Relapse Among Patients With Psychotic Depression in Remission

#VisualAbstract: Effect of Continuing Olanzapine vs Placebo on Relapse Among Patients With Psychotic Depression in Remission

Quick Take: Association of Cereal, Gluten, and Dietary Fiber Intake With Islet Autoimmunity and Type 1 Diabetes

Quick Take: Gluten does not induce gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy volunteers

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Sacituzumab tirumotecan may have a role in the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
  • Obicetrapib and ezetimibe combination therapy lowers LDL cholesterol in high-risk patients
  • Rectoscopy alone may be sufficient to evaluate for remission of ulcerative colitis
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
No Result
View All Result

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.