The use of facemasks by the general population to prevent transmission of Covid 19 infection: A systematic review
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Abstract
Background
The pandemic of COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a serious worldwide public health emergency. This systematic review aims to summarize the available evidence regarding the role of face mask in community settings in slowing the spread of respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.
Methods
The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used for this review. Literature search using PUBMED, Google Scholar and Cochrane database was performed using Medical subject heading (MeSH) words from the year 2000-2020. The articles focused on the use of masks and N95 respirators in healthcare workers were excluded.
Results
A total of 305 records were identified, out of which 14 articles were included in the review based upon quality and eligibility criteria. All the articles mentioned about role of face masks in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses like influenza, SARS and SARS-CoV-2, in the community or experimental setting. Studies also suggested that early initiation of face mask usage was more effective. Masks were also reported to be more effective in viruses which transmit easily from asymptomatic individuals, as is now known in SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusion
Theoretical, experimental and clinical evidence suggested that usage of face masks in general population offered significant benefit in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses especially in the pandemic situation, but it’s utility is limited by inconsistent adherence to mask usage.
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SciScore for 10.1101/2020.05.01.20087064: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Institutional Review Board Statement not detected. Randomization The publications chosen for this study included randomized control trials, non randomized experimental studies and observational studies. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Sex as a biological variable not detected. Table 2: Resources
No key resources detected.
Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:The limitation though is a false sense of security that can lead to poorer compliance with other …
SciScore for 10.1101/2020.05.01.20087064: (What is this?)
Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.
Table 1: Rigor
Institutional Review Board Statement not detected. Randomization The publications chosen for this study included randomized control trials, non randomized experimental studies and observational studies. Blinding not detected. Power Analysis not detected. Sex as a biological variable not detected. Table 2: Resources
No key resources detected.
Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).
Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:The limitation though is a false sense of security that can lead to poorer compliance with other methods like hand washing. The transmission characteristics of a virus also plays an important role. Mask usage is practically the only way to prevent aerosol transmission, which may cause the most severe cases of respiratory infections like influenza and Covid-19. Hand washing and social distancing can largely prevent transmission by contact and droplets, but these methods are much less effective against aerosol transmission. The population mask approach is also more beneficial when a disease gets transmitted by asymptomatic carriers. Many SARS-CoV-2 infections are transmitted by people who are asymptomatic.19 The length of this asymptomatic period for SARS-CoV-2 infections is estimated to vary from 3-24 days.20 This characteristic is unique to SARS-CoV-2 vis a vis other respiratory viruses including SARS and may be reason enough for the entire population to mask up. In conclusion, Facemask usage by the general population is vital in the prevention of a respiratory virus with unique transmission characteristics as the SARS-CoV-2. While the first priority for facemask usage has to be given to healthcare workers, the general population also needs to adopt masks, as soon as possible. In view of the likely paucity of surgical masks, the community can use homemade cloth masks with adequate precautions of hygiene. The home-made masks still confer a significant degree of protection, alb...
Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.
Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.
Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.
Results from rtransparent:- Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
- No protocol registration statement was detected.
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