SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rates Following Use of Regular Compared With Defective Respirators When Caring for COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Follow-up Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There is strong observational evidence that respirators are highly effective in protecting the users from being infected with Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), but the evidence for SARS-CoV-2 during daily work is limited. This study utilized a subset of healthcare workers' temporary use of a new brand respirator with frequent defects when caring for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients to assess the protective effect of regular respirators against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

METHODS:

We retrospectively followed 463 participants wearing a regular respirator and 168 wearing the new brand respirator day-by-day when caring for COVID-19 patients until testing polymerase chain reaction positive for SARS-CoV-2 between 27th December 2020 and 14th January 2021.

RESULTS:

We observed seven and eight incident SARS-CoV-2-infected cases. This corresponded with daily infection rates of 0.2 and 0.5%, an incidence rate ratio of 0.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1; 1.0], and an incidence rate difference of 0.3% (95% CI -0.1; 0.8) when comparing a regular with the new brand respirator.

DISCUSSION:

We regard the new brand respirator a sham intervention, and this study thus provides further evidence for the protective effect of respirators when exposed to SARS-CoV-2 virus.

• Authors: Henrik A Kolstad, Morten Frydenberg, Kent Jacob Nielsen, Vivi Schlünssen, Karin Biering, Mona Kjærsgaard, Jesper Medom Vestergaard, Else Toft Würtz, Kirsten Pugdahl, Anne Mette Lund Würtz, Karoline Kærgaard Hansen, Sanne Jespersen, Marianne Kragh Thomsen, Mette Marie Sørensen, Svend Ellermann-Eriksen, Jacob Dvinge Redder, Merete Storgaard
• Journal: Annals of work exposures and health (Ann Work Expo Health) Vol. 67 Issue 1 Pg. 141-146 (01 12 2023) ISSN: 2398-7316 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35488370 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.

Topics

• Humans
• COVID-19
• Follow-Up Studies
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Retrospective Studies
• SARS-CoV-2
• Ventilators, Mechanical