N95 respirators compared with surgical masks is not associated with a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza

Objectives:
Previous meta-analyses concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine the effect of N95 respirators. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Is the use of N95 respirators compared with surgical masks associated with a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza?

Study design:
This review article included a total of 6 RCTs involving 9,171 participants.

Results and conclusions:                               
The investigators found there were no statistically significant differences in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza [RR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.92 to 1.28, p > 0.05], laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral infections [RR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.70 to 1.11], laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection [RR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.42 to 1.29] and influenza-like illness [R = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.33 to 1.14] using N95 respirators and surgical masks.

The investigators found N95 respirators significantly reduced risk of laboratory-confirmed bacterial colonization with 42% [RR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.43 to 0.78].

The investigators concluded the use of N95 respirators compared with surgical masks is not associated with a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza. It suggests that N95 respirators should not be recommended for general public and nonhigh-risk medical staff those are not in close contact with influenza patients or suspected patients.

Original title:
Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks against influenza: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Long Y, Hu T, […], Du L.

Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32167245

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