Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

April 6, 2020

Medical Masks vs N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 in Health Care Works- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

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  • Findings from this meta-analysis of randomized control trials comparing the protective effect of medical masks to N95 respirators in health care workers suggests that medical masks and N95 respirators offer similar protection against viral respiratory infection during non-aerosol generating procedures. 
  • The authors recommend preserving N95 respirators for high-risk, aerosol generating procedures when in short supply, as medical masks are less expensive and more readily available.  

Bartoszko et al. (Apr 4, 2020). Medical Masks vs N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 in Health Care Works- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Influenza and other respiratory viruses. https://doi.org/10.1111/irv.12745