AI Summary
The study investigated the risk of influenza virus transmission from touching contaminated face masks in a laboratory setting. Despite high levels of virus contamination on the masks, only minimal or no viable virus was successfully transferred to a human finger when swiping the outer surface of the mask. This research provides important insights into the potential routes of virus transmission and may influence infection control practices in healthcare settings.
The risk of virus transmission via the touching of contaminated masks has long been assumed by infection control teams. Yet, robust evidence to support this belief has been lacking. This risk was investigated in a laboratory setting by measuring the amount of viable influenza virus successfully transferred from artificially contaminated medical (surgical) mask surfaces to a human finger used to swipe their outer surface under various experimental conditions. Despite being exposed to high levels of virus contamination on the masks, very little or no viable virus was successfully transferred from the mask to the finger in these experiments.
Respiratory viral infections such as influenza have been considered to spread through two major routes: by inhalation of aerosols or droplets and via direct or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces. The latter route has long been emphasized in the field of infection control. The touching of contaminated masks is also traditionally assumed to be a risk of viral transmission in hospital infection control practices for the prevention of nosocomial infection of influenza, as well as of other infectious diseases. However, there is a notable lack of evidence supporting this route of transmission, despite the amount of infection control guidance related to this, including various personal protective equipment (PPE) donning/doffing guidelines<a data-track="click" data-track-action="reference anchor" data-track-label="link" data-test="citation-ref" aria-label="Reference 1" title="CDC. How to safely remove