title: Surgical masks for protection of health care personnel against pandemic novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1)-2009: results from an observational study.
abstract: There is ongoing debate about the efficacy of surgical masks versus N95 respirators for protection against pandemic novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1)-2009. Our hospital, which is designated to manage outbreaks of emerging infection, has robust surveillance systems to detect infection in staff. The incidence of pandemic H1N1-2009 remained low in staff with use of surgical masks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. Brenda_Ang@ttsh.com.sg
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.forename: Bee Fong
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Poh
authors.forename: Mar Kyaw
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Win
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D008397:Masks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology