title: Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Viral epidemics or pandemics of acute respiratory infections like influenza or severe acute respiratory syndrome pose a world-wide threat. Antiviral drugs and vaccinations may be insufficient to prevent catastrophe.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review the effectiveness of physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2009, issue 2); MEDLINE (1966 to May 2009); OLDMEDLINE (1950 to 1965); EMBASE (1990 to May 2009); and CINAHL (1982 to May 2009).
  
  
  METHODS
  We scanned 2958 titles, excluded 2790 and retrieved the full papers of 168 trials, to include 59 papers of 60 studies. We included any physical interventions (isolation, quarantine, social distancing, barriers, personal protection and hygiene) to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses. We included the following study designs: randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cohorts, case controls, cross-over, before-after, and time series studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a standardised form to assess trial eligibility. RCTs were assessed by: randomisation method; allocation generation; concealment; blinding; and follow up. Non-RCTs were assessed for the presence of potential confounders, and classified into low, medium, and high risks of bias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of bias for the four RCTs, and most cluster RCTs, was high. The observational studies were of mixed quality. Only case-control data were sufficiently homogeneous to allow meta-analysis.The highest quality cluster RCTs suggest respiratory virus spread can be prevented by hygienic measures, such as handwashing, especially around younger children. Additional benefit from reduced transmission from children to other household members is broadly supported in results of other study designs, where the potential for confounding is greater. Six case-control studies suggested that implementing barriers to transmission, isolation, and hygienic measures are effective at containing respiratory virus epidemics. We found limited evidence that N95 respirators were superior to simple surgical masks, but were more expensive, uncomfortable, and caused skin irritation. The incremental effect of adding virucidals or antiseptics to normal handwashing to decrease respiratory disease remains uncertain. Global measures, such as screening at entry ports, were not properly evaluated. There was limited evidence that social distancing was effective especially if related to the risk of exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many simple and probably low-cost interventions would be useful for reducing the transmission of epidemic respiratory viruses. Routine long-term implementation of some of the measures assessed might be difficult without the threat of a looming epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Vaccines Field, The Cochrane Collaboration, Via Adige 28a, Anguillara Sabazia, Roma, Italy, 00061.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jefferson
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Mar
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dooley
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferroni
authors.forename: Lubna A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Al-Ansary
authors.forename: Ghada A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bawazeer
authors.forename: Mieke L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: van Driel
authors.forename: Sreekumaran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foxlee
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivetti
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D017201:Virus Shedding