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Patient safety implications of wearing a face mask for prevention in the era of COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and consensus recommendations.
Balestracci, Beatrice; La Regina, Micaela; Di Sessa, Domenico; Mucci, Nicola; Angelone, Francesca Donatella; D'Ecclesia, Aurelio; Fineschi, Vittorio; Di Tommaso, Mariarosaria; Corbetta, Lorenzo; Lachman, Peter; Orlandini, Francesco; Tanzini, Michela; Tartaglia, Riccardo; Squizzato, Alessandro.
  • Balestracci B; SC Governo e rischio clinico, programmazione sanitaria e controllo di gestione, Azienda Sociosanitaria Ligure 5 (ASL5), La Spezia, Italy.
  • La Regina M; SC Governo e rischio clinico, programmazione sanitaria e controllo di gestione, Azienda Sociosanitaria Ligure 5 (ASL5), La Spezia, Italy. micaela.laregina@asl5.liguria.it.
  • Di Sessa D; SC Governo e rischio clinico, programmazione sanitaria e controllo di gestione, Azienda Sociosanitaria Ligure 5 (ASL5), La Spezia, Italy.
  • Mucci N; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
  • Angelone FD; Pediatric Emergency Department, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
  • D'Ecclesia A; IRCCS 'Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza', S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy.
  • Fineschi V; Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
  • Di Tommaso M; Department of Gynaecology, Perinatology and Human Reproduction, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
  • Corbetta L; Department of Interventional Pneumology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
  • Lachman P; Lead Faculty Quality Improvement Programme- Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Orlandini F; Healthcare Direction, ASL4, Chiavari (GE), Italy.
  • Tanzini M; Italian Network for Safety in Healthcare, Florence, Italy.
  • Tartaglia R; Department of Innovation and Information Engineering, G. Marconi University, Rome, Italy.
  • Squizzato A; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
Intern Emerg Med ; 2022 Sep 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2227872
ABSTRACT
In the past, the use of face masks in western countries was essentially limited to occupational health. Now, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, mask-wearing has been recommended as a public health intervention. As potential side effects and some contraindications are emerging, we reviewed the literature to assess the impact of them in daily life on patient safety and to provide appropriate guidelines and recommendations. We performed a systematic review of studies investigating physiological impact, safety, and risk of masks in predefined categories of patients, which have been published in peer-reviewed journals with no time and language restrictions. Given the heterogeneity of studies, results were analyzed thematically. We used PRISMA guidelines to report our findings. Wearing a N95 respirator is more associated with worse side effects than wearing a surgical mask with the following complications breathing difficulties (reduced FiO2, SpO2, PaO2 increased ETCO2, PaCO2), psychiatric symptoms (panic attacks, anxiety) and skin reactions. These complications are related to the duration of use and/or disease severity. Difficulties in communication is another issue to be considered especially with young children, older person and people with hearing impairments. Even if benefits of wearing face masks exceed the discomfort, it is recommended to take an "air break" after 1-2 h consecutively of mask-wearing. However, well-designed prospective studies are needed. The COVID-19 pandemic could represent a unique opportunity for collecting large amount of real-world data.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Reviews / Systematic review/Meta Analysis Language: English Journal subject: Emergency Medicine / Internal Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S11739-022-03083-w

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study / Reviews / Systematic review/Meta Analysis Language: English Journal subject: Emergency Medicine / Internal Medicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S11739-022-03083-w