Universal Use of Surgical Masks is Tolerated and Prevents Respiratory Viral Infection in Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

Partridge, David G.; Sori, Alka; Green, Daniel J.; Simpson, Rebecca; Poller, Bozena; Raza, Mohammad; Kaur, Harpreet; Jessop, Helen; Colton, Bethany; Nield, Aileen; Evans, Cariad M.; Lee, Andrew

Prevention of respiratory viral infection in stem cell transplant patients is important due to its high risk of adverse outcome. This single centre, mixed methods study, conducted before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, explored the barriers and facilitators to a policy of universal mask wearing by visitors and healthcare workers and examined the impact of the first year of introduction of the policy on respiratory viral infection rates compared to preceding years adjusted for overall incidence. Education around universal mask wearing was highlighted as being particularly important in policy implementation. A statistically significant fall in respiratory viral infection was observed following introduction.