Title Universal use of surgical masks is tolerated and prevents respiratory viral infection in stem cell transplant recipients.
Author Partridge, D G; Sori, A; Green, D J; Simpson, R; Poller, B; Raza, M; Kaur, H; Jessop, H; Colton, B; Nield, A; Evans, C M; Lee, A
Journal J Hosp Infect Publication Year/Month 2022-Jan
PMID 34543704 PMCID PMC8447542
Affiliation + expend 1.Department of Microbiology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK; Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interaction, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. Electronic address: dpartridge@nhs.net.

Prevention of respiratory viral infection in stem cell transplant patients is important due to its high risk of adverse outcome. This single-centre, mixed methods study, conducted before the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic, explored the barriers and facilitators to a policy of universal mask use by visitors and healthcare workers, and examined the impact of the first year of introduction of the policy on respiratory viral infection rates compared with preceding years, adjusted for overall incidence. Education around universal mask use was highlighted as being particularly important in policy implementation. A significant decrease in respiratory viral infection was observed following introduction.

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