%0 Journal Article
%T Mask-wearing and respiratory infection in healthcare workers in Beijing, China
%A Yang
%A Peng
%A Seale
%A Holly
%A MacIntyre
%A C Raina
%A Zhang
%A Haiyan
%A Zhang
%A Zhen
%A Zhang
%A Yi
%A Wang
%A Xiaoli
%A Li
%A Xinyu
%A Pang
%A Xinghuo
%A Wang
%A Quanyi
%J Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
%D 2011
%I Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases
%R 10.1590/S1413-86702011000200002
%X objectives: the aim of the study was to determine rates of mask-wearing, of respiratory infection and the factors associated with mask-wearing and of respiratory infection in healthcare workers (hcws) in beijing during the winter of 2007/2008. methods: we conducted a survey of 400 hcws working in eight hospitals in beijing by face to face interview using a standardized questionnaire. results: we found that 280/400 (70.0%) of hcws were compliant with mask-wearing while in contact with patients. respiratory infection occurred in 238/400 (59.5%) subjects from november, 2007 through february, 2008. respiratory infection was higher among females (odds ratio [or], 2.00 [95% confidence interval {ci}, 1.16-3.49]) and staff working in larger hospitals (or, 1.72 [95% ci, 1.092.72]), but was lower among subjects with seasonal influenza vaccination (or, 0.46 [95% ci, 0.280.76]), wearing medical masks (reference: cotton-yarn; or, 0.60 [95% ci, 0.39-0.91]) or with good mask-wearing adherence (or, 0.60 [95% ci, 0.37-0.98]). the risk of respiratory infection of hcws working in low risk areas was similar to that of hcws in high risk area. conclusion: our data suggest that female hcws and staffs working in larger hospitals are the focus of prevention and control of respiratory infection in beijing hospitals. mask-wearing and seasonal influenza vaccination are protective for respiratory infection in hcws; the protective efficacy of medical masks is better than that of cotton yarn ones; respiratory infection of hcws working in low risk areas should also be given attention.
%K masks
%K respiratory tract infections
%K health personnel.
%U http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S1413-86702011000200002&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en