Experts blast ‘flawed’ mask studies, urge healthcare workers to use respirators
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 24, 2023
Leading infectious disease experts are pushing back after the publication of two studies finding no differences between surgical masks and respirators for protecting healthcare workers against respiratory...
Healthcare workers have 40 percent lower odds of COVID with respirators vs. surgical masks
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 17, 2022
Despite cumulative exposure, healthcare workers in 2020 and 2021 were 40% less likely to contract COVID-19 when they wore respirators rather than surgical masks, investigators say.
Hospital’s coronavirus containment success a model for other facilities, researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 09, 2022
A testing and mask protocol that rapidly stopped the spread of COVID-19 in two hospital units during the omicron surge may be a useful model for other facilities to emulate, researchers say.
Health officials urge public to consider wearing N95, KN95 respirators
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2022
The CDC has updated its consumer information on wearing face masks during the pandemic. The changes clarify levels of mask protection and emphasize that the public can choose to wear N95 and KN95 respirators...
July 4 sees COVID-19 spike, ventilator shortage for Missouri hospitals
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 07, 2021
An area of Missouri with low COVID-19 immunization rates has seen a 27% spike in hospitalizations and a public call for respiratory therapists, a report finds.
Feds revoke emergency use of some respirators, mask decontamination in healthcare settings
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 02, 2021
Healthcare personnel are no longer authorized to use certain respirators not approved by NIOSH or technology for cleaning disposable masks, the FDA says.
Wearers of medical masks and respirators have same infection rates in healthcare settings: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 24, 2021
The risk of receiving a positive COVID-19 test result was the same among healthcare workers who wore either type of mask, investigators say. In contrast, their non-mask-wearing colleagues had significantly...
Reach for N95s when community COVID rates spike, Harvard scientists urge healthcare workers
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 16, 2021
The CDC has relaxed rules for wearing respirators in healthcare settings, but a team of Harvard doctors is encouraging workers to keep an eye on local COVID-19 rates. The superior fit and filtration of...
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, June 9
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 09, 2021
Twist in the FDA’s Alzheimer’s decision: no limits on which patients can get the drug … Biden administration advises changes to policies linked to N95 shortages … Frailty tied to increased mortality...
While FDA moves to halt mask reuse, N95 access remains spotty, report finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 15, 2021
A new push to ensure that healthcare facilities stockpile single-use or reusable N95 respirators has arrived while some workers continue to lack access to the equipment and U.S. mask manufacturers can’t...