A new study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection recommends testing patients for COVID-19 upon admission and requiring staff to wear N95 masks.
Scientists from the Burnet Institute in Melbourne discovered that 15 to 25 percent of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 got the virus after being admitted to the hospital.
The data also showed a 6 percent higher mortality rate among those who caught COVID-19 in hospital, compared to those who did not.
The researchers unveiled what they described as “simple infection control measures” which could save lives and lower costs for hospitals.
Mathematical modelling based on data from outbreaks in Victorian hospitals indicated that while surgical masks may have cost less upfront, N95 masks provided better protection and ultimately “provided cost-saving benefits for hospitals.”
Lead author and mathematical modeller Fenella McAndrew explained there were hidden costs of using surgical masks instead of N95 masks in hospital settings.
“It may seem like surgical masks are the cheaper option but when you consider extended hospital stays for patients and sick days taken by staff, it ends up being more expensive,” she said.
“And hospital workers shouldn’t have to take sick leave due to a COVID-19 infection they caught at work.”
Associate Professor Nick Scott, a lead author on the study, said he hoped the study would provide evidence to support strategies to manage COVID-19 outbreaks in hospitals in the future.
How Much Did PCR Screening Save?
Scientists used an agent-based model to replicate COVID-19 outbreaks in Victorian acute care settings.RAT admission screening of patients saved 1,176 to 1,543 deaths state-wide per year and an estimated $57.6 million (US$38.8 million) to 78.4 million.
PCR testing, on the other hand, saved an estimated $49.7 million to $53.6 million and 1,402 to 1,684 deaths statewide per year.
Meanwhile, the researchers found staff N95 respirators may save between $54.7 million to $78.4 million and 854 to 1,543 deaths each year in Victoria.
“These results support recommendations for maintaining N95 respirator use among staff within acute care facilities,” the authors said.
“The effect size of N95 respirators chosen for the model represents the most conservative reasonable estimate in the literature, and a greater actual effect would result in greater cost-effectiveness of this intervention.”
The scientists suggested more mask usage could have merit for multiple viruses or infections, and should be further explored.
“In conclusion, in acute care settings, staff N95 respirators and admission screening testing of patients can save lives and reduce costs related to COVID-19 through reduced patient bed days and staff replacement needs,” the authors said.
Separate Study Finds Surgical Masks No Different to N95
However, a separate study from McMaster University found no major difference between the two mask types when protecting against COVID-19 for healthcare workers.The study led by researchers at the university found that “surgical masks were not inferior to N95 masks for stopping the spread of COVID-19.
The study tracked 1,009 healthcare workers who were providing COVID-19 patient care in multiple countries internationally between May 2020 and March 2022. The patients were located at 29 sites in Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, and Canada.
Volunteers taking part in the study were randomly given either a surgical mask, or a N95 respirator for the study.
Loeb added there had been “conflicting recommendations” on the use of N95 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
