Open AccessFace Masks Use to Avoid Airborne Contamination during COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Conditions: A Systematic Review
Author(s) -
Danúbia da Cunha de Sá-Caputo,
Ana Oliveira,
Anelise Sonza,
Laisa Liane Paineiras-Domingos,
Redha Taı̈ar,
Satya Das,
Alexandre Ribeiro Bello,
Mário Bernardo-Filho
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iranian journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2251-6093
pISSN - 2251-6085
DOI - 10.18502/ijph.v50i12.7920
Subject(s) - covid-19 , pandemic , observational study , face masks , systematic review , medicine , contamination , medline , environmental science , medical physics , environmental health , outbreak , pathology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biology , ecology , biochemistry
Background: The facemasks use has been discussed to prevent respiratory disease due airborne contamination. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review about the face masks use to avoid airborne contamination during COVID-19 pandemic and related conditions, registered (PROSPERO-CRD42020198347) and performed according PRISMA.
Methods: PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases were used to collect data. Observational studies, published in 2020, and English language, were included. Two reviewers independently identified records through database search and reference screening and disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Six studies were included.
Results: The works investigated about the use of masks (different types) to prevent droplets dissemination with virus or bacterial suspension and decrease COVID-19 transmission routes, comfort, or temperature. The studies have moderate to critical risk of bias and the level of evidence is III-2.
Conclusion: It is recommended facemask use to prevent droplets from escaping airborne and infecting other people, although there are different percentages of protection and can be possible a discomfort related the use. Further clinical trials to the effectiveness of face mask to avoid airborne contamination during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors interfering with their effectiveness should be conducted.