The Addenbrooke Hospital in Cambridge has replaced regular surgical masks (FRSM) with filter masks (FFP3). The changes were made at the end of December in response to employee test data. There has been a decrease in coronavirus infections among medical staff by up to 100%.
Until recently, Public Health England (PHE) recommended that healthcare professionals caring for COVID-19 patients use FRSMs (Classic Surgical Masks) as respiratory protection. The guidelines have recently been updated to require the government’s National Health Service (NHS) to assess the risk of COVID-19 among staff and provide FFP3 respirator masks where appropriate.
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Addenbrooke Hospital tests staff for COVID-19 from the onset of the pandemic, even if workers show no symptoms. Tests showed that healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients were more likely to be infected than staff in other wards, even when using the recommended respiratory protective equipment.
It was decided to change the masks used by medical staff from ordinary surgical ones to those with filters. After changing the protective equipment, the frequency of infections in both types of wards was similar.
Dr. Chris Illingworth of the MRC biostatistics unit at the University of Cambridge said: “Following the introduction of the FFP3 masks, the number of cases in COVID-19 wards has dropped significantly – this suggests that FFP3 masks could reduce the infection to zero«.
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Better protection against infection is now particularly important due to the Delta variant, which causes a re-increase in the number of infected and can also occur in vaccinated people. In India, as many as three hospitals detected outbreaks of mutations in just four weeks – even though the majority of those infected received two doses of the vaccine.
«While vaccines will protect healthy people from serious infection, the Delta variant increases the likelihood of severe course in a hospital setting, among weakened patients »- said prof. Ravi Gupta from the University of Cambridge, co-author of the study.
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Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, adds that you cannot rest on your laurels and further measures must be implemented to combat the pandemic and calls for vaccination.
Are you looking for masks that do not harm the environment? Check out the first biodegradable face masks on the market, available in affordable packages.
See also:
- The Delta variant attacks the digestive system. The doctor tells you what symptoms they need to worry about
- Immunity after the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines – groundbreaking information
- Are you planning to vaccinate against COVID-19? Learn the nine steps to how to best prepare for it
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