Association of institutional masking policies with healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections in Swiss acute care hospitals during the BA.4/5 wave (CH-SUR study): a retrospective observational study

Author:

Dörr Tamara,Güsewell Sabine,Flury Domenica,Süveges Maria,Gaza Valera Camille Beatrice,Botero-Mesa Sara,Zanella Marie-Céline,Iten Anne,Balmelli Carlo,Troillet Nicolas,Tschudin-Sutter Sarah,W Schreiber Peter,Jent Philipp,Damonti Lauro,Sommerstein Rami,Portmann Lea,Vuichard-Gysin Danielle,Cusini Alexia,Nussbaumer-Ochsner Yvonne,Heininger Ulrich,Berger Christoph,Zimmermann Petra,Gardiol Céline,Keiser Olivia,Schlegel Matthias,Kohler Philipp,P Kuster Stefan

Abstract

Abstract Background In the initial phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, masking has been widely accepted in healthcare institutions to mitigate the risk of healthcare-associated infection. Evidence, however, is still scant and the role of masks in preventing healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 acquisition remains unclear.We investigated the association of variation in institutional mask policies with healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections in acute care hospitals in Switzerland during the BA.4/5 2022 wave. Methods SARS-CoV-2 infections in hospitalized patients between June 1 and September 5, 2022, were obtained from the “Hospital-based surveillance of COVID-19 in Switzerland”-database and classified as healthcare- or community-associated based on time of disease onset. Institutions provided information regarding institutional masking policies for healthcare workers and other prevention policies. The percentage of healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections was calculated per institution and per type of mask policy. The association of healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections with mask policies was tested using a negative binominal mixed-effect model. Results We included 2’980 SARS-CoV-2 infections from 13 institutions, 444 (15%) were classified as healthcare-associated. Between June 20 and June 30, 2022, six (46%) institutions switched to a more stringent mask policy. The percentage of healthcare-associated infections subsequently declined in institutions with policy switch but not in the others. In particular, the switch from situative masking (standard precautions) to general masking of HCW in contact with patients was followed by a strong reduction of healthcare-associated infections (rate ratio 0.39, 95% CI 0.30–0.49). In contrast, when compared across hospitals, the percentage of health-care associated infections was not related to mask policies. Conclusions Our findings suggest switching to a more stringent mask policy may be beneficial during increases of healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections at an institutional level.

Funder

Schweizerische Akademie der Medizinischen Wissenschaften

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3