Decreasing High-risk Exposures for Healthcare Workers Through Universal Masking and Universal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Testing on Entry to a Tertiary Care Facility

Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Nov 2;73(9):e3113-e3115. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1358.

Abstract

We describe the impact of universal masking and universal testing at admission on high-risk exposures to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 for healthcare workers. Universal masking decreased the rate of high-risk exposures per patient-day by 68%, and universal testing further decreased those exposures by 77%.

Keywords: PPE; SARS-CoV-2 transmission; aerosol generating procedure; hospital epidemiology; universal masking.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19*
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Tertiary Healthcare