BACKGROUND: Ambiguity remains about the effectiveness of wearing surgical face masks. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact on surgical site infections (SSIs) when non-scrubbed operating room staff did not wear surgical face masks. METHODS:Eight hundred twenty-seven participants undergoing elective or emergency obstetric, gynecological, general, orthopaedic, breast or urological surgery in an Australian tertiary hospital were enrolled. Complete follow-up data were available for 811 patients (98.1%). Operating room lists were randomly allocated to a 'Mask group' (all non-scrubbed staff wore a mask) or 'No Mask group' (none of the non-scrubbed staff wore masks). The primary end point, SSI was identified using in-patient surveillance; post discharge follow-up and chart reviews. The patient was followed for up to six weeks. RESULTS: Overall, 83 (10.2%) surgical site infections were recorded; 46/401 (11.5%) in the Masked group and 37/410 (9.0%) in the No Mask group; odds ratio (OR) 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49 to 1.21), p = 0.151. Independent risk factors for surgical site infection included: any pre-operative stay (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.43 (95% CI, 0.20; 0.95), high BMI aOR, 0.38 (95% CI, 0.17; 0.87), and any previous surgical site infection aOR, 0.40 (95% CI, 0.17; 0.89). CONCLUSION:Surgical site infection rates did not increase when non-scrubbed operating room personnel did not wear a face mask.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Ambiguity remains about the effectiveness of wearing surgical face masks. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact on surgical site infections (SSIs) when non-scrubbed operating room staff did not wear surgical face masks. METHODS: Eight hundred twenty-seven participants undergoing elective or emergency obstetric, gynecological, general, orthopaedic, breast or urological surgery in an Australian tertiary hospital were enrolled. Complete follow-up data were available for 811 patients (98.1%). Operating room lists were randomly allocated to a 'Mask group' (all non-scrubbed staff wore a mask) or 'No Mask group' (none of the non-scrubbed staff wore masks). The primary end point, SSI was identified using in-patient surveillance; post discharge follow-up and chart reviews. The patient was followed for up to six weeks. RESULTS: Overall, 83 (10.2%) surgical site infections were recorded; 46/401 (11.5%) in the Masked group and 37/410 (9.0%) in the No Mask group; odds ratio (OR) 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49 to 1.21), p = 0.151. Independent risk factors for surgical site infection included: any pre-operative stay (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.43 (95% CI, 0.20; 0.95), high BMI aOR, 0.38 (95% CI, 0.17; 0.87), and any previous surgical site infection aOR, 0.40 (95% CI, 0.17; 0.89). CONCLUSION: Surgical site infection rates did not increase when non-scrubbed operating room personnel did not wear a face mask.
Authors: Brigid M Gillespie; Joan Webster; David Ellwood; Lukman Thalib; Jennifer A Whitty; Kassam Mahomed; Vicki Clifton; Sailesh Kumar; Adam Wagner; Evelyn Kang; Wendy Chaboyer Journal: BMJ Date: 2021-05-05
Authors: James A Fraser; Kayla B Briggs; Wendy Jo Svetanoff; Rebecca M Rentea; Pablo Aguayo; David Juang; Jason D Fraser; Charles L Snyder; Richard J Hendrickson; Shawn D St Peter; Tolulope A Oyetunji Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2021-10-19 Impact factor: 1.827
Authors: Brigid M Gillespie; Joan Webster; David Ellwood; Helen Stapleton; Jennifer A Whitty; Lukman Thalib; Nicky Cullum; Kassam Mahomed; Wendy Chaboyer Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2016-02-01 Impact factor: 2.692