Cloth masks as respiratory protections in the COVID-19 pandemic period: evidence gaps.
Rev Bras Enferm
; 73(suppl 2): e20200239, 2020.
Article
in English, Portuguese
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-788926
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
to identify scientific evidence on the effectiveness of using cloth masks as safe protectors against COVID-19.METHOD:
an integrative review of articles available in full obtained at PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Controlled, non-controlled descriptors and keywords such as "mask", "home-made" and "cloth" or "cotton" and "infection control" or "infection prevention" were used.RESULTS:
thirty-eight articles were selected; of these, seven studies made up the sample. Evidence shows that cloth masks do not have the same protective characteristics as surgical masks, indicating an increased risk of infection due to humidity, diffusion of fluids, virus retention, and improper preparation. Considering the shortage of surgical masks during the pandemic, cloth masks could be proposed as a last resort.CONCLUSION:
cloth masks should be used together with preventive measures, such as home insulation, good respiratory conduct, and regular hand hygiene.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Textiles
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Pandemics
/
Betacoronavirus
/
Masks
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Reviews
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
/
Portuguese
Journal:
Rev Bras Enferm
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
0034-7167-2020-0239
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS