June 23, 2020

Respiratory Virus Shedding in Exhaled Breath and Efficacy of Face Masks

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

• Use of a surgical mask significantly reduced the proportion of droplets and aerosols with detectable virus among children and adults with confirmed seasonal coronavirus and seasonal influenza infection. Among 17 patients with seasonal coronavirus, virus was detected in 30% of droplets and 40% of aerosols among those randomized to not wear a surgical mask compared to 0% detection in both droplets and aerosols of those randomized to wear a surgical mask. 
• Similar results were found for the effect of surgical masks worn by patients with seasonal influenza, but there was no effect of wearing a surgical mask among those with a rhinovirus infection.  

Leung et al. (May 2020). Respiratory Virus Shedding in Exhaled Breath and Efficacy of Face Masks. Nature Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0843-2