Should masks be used to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses?

+Practice

In print

Clinical comment

Should masks be used to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses?

12 April 2023

Vanessa Jordan

Wednesday 12 April 2023, 12:35 AM

Low adherence to mask wearing hampered the ability to draw firm conclusions [Image: Alin Luna on Unsplash]

COVID-19 mask mandates were controversial at the time of introduction, and a recent review published by Cochrane, one of the leading authorities in evidence-based medicine, has brought this debate back to life

Key points, A recent Cochrane review was unable to address whether mask wearing helps to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses due to limitations in the primar, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Occupational Health

Infectious Disease

COVID-19

References

1. Jefferson T, Dooley L, Ferroni E, et al. Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023;1(1):CD006207.

2. Chu DK, Akl EA, Duda S, et al. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2020;395(10242):1973–87.

3. Soares-Weiser, K. Statement on ‘Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses’ review. Cochrane, 10 March 2023. cochrane.org

How to Treat

+How to treat

Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM