Medical Masks Compared to N95 Respirators for COVID-19 Prevention in Healthcare Workers

Scott, Jake MD

Clinical Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine; Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Medical Director, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley

Infectious Disease Alert 42(5):p 56-58, February 2023.

SYNOPSIS: A multicenter, randomized, controlled study found that medical masks were noninferior to N95 respirators in their relative protection against COVID-19 among healthcare workers when worn while providing routine care to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

SOURCE: Loeb M, Bartholomew A, Hashmi M, et al. Medical masks versus N95 respirators for preventing COVID-19 among health care workers: A randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2022;175:1629-1638.