Efficacy of FFP3 respirators for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers.
View / Open Files
Authors
Ferris, Rebecca
Workman, Chris
Enoch, David A
Goldesgeyme, Emma
Quinnell, Natalie
Patel, Parth
Wright, Jo
Martell, Geraldine
Moody, Christine
Shaw, Ashley
Publication Date
2021-11-16Journal Title
Elife
ISSN
2050-084X
Publisher
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Volume
10
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Ferris, M., Ferris, R., Workman, C., O'Connor, E., Enoch, D. A., Goldesgeyme, E., Quinnell, N., et al. (2021). Efficacy of FFP3 respirators for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers.. Elife, 10 https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.71131
Description
Funder: NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre
Funder: Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals
Abstract
Background: Respiratory protective equipment recommended in the UK for healthcare workers (HCWs) caring for patients with COVID-19 comprises a fluid-resistant surgical mask (FRSM), except in the context of aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). We previously demonstrated frequent pauci- and asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection HCWs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, using a comprehensive PCR-based HCW screening programme (Rivett et al., 2020; Jones et al., 2020). Methods: Here, we use observational data and mathematical modelling to analyse infection rates amongst HCWs working on 'red' (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) and 'green' (non-COVID-19) wards during the second wave of the pandemic, before and after the substitution of filtering face piece 3 (FFP3) respirators for FRSMs. Results: Whilst using FRSMs, HCWs working on red wards faced an approximately 31-fold (and at least fivefold) increased risk of direct, ward-based infection. Conversely, after changing to FFP3 respirators, this risk was significantly reduced (52-100% protection). Conclusions: FFP3 respirators may therefore provide more effective protection than FRSMs for HCWs caring for patients with COVID-19, whether or not AGPs are undertaken. Funding: Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, NHS Blood and Transfusion, UKRI.
Keywords
Viruses, Microbiology, Infectious disease, epidemiology, Global Health, Mask, Healthcare Worker, Ppe, Covid-19, Sars-cov-2, Ffp3
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (108070/Z/15/Z)
Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT) (900275 Minute 47/20B)
Medical Research Council (MR/P008801/1)
MRC (via University of Warwick) (MR/V038613/1)
Identifiers
PMC8635983, 34783656
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.71131
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/332376
Statistics
Total file downloads (since January 2020). For more information on metrics see the
IRUS guide.