Universal Masking in Health Care Settings: A Pandemic Strategy Whose Time Has Come and Gone, For Now - PubMed (original) (raw)

Editorial

. 2023 Jun;176(6):859-861.

doi: 10.7326/M23-0793. Epub 2023 Apr 18.

Affiliations

• PMID: 37068281
• PMCID: PMC10111407
• DOI: 10.7326/M23-0793

Editorial

Universal Masking in Health Care Settings: A Pandemic Strategy Whose Time Has Come and Gone, For Now

Erica S Shenoy et al. Ann Intern Med. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the use of facemasks has been mandated in all health care settings for individuals older than 2 years, whether present as health care personnel, patients, or visitors. In this commentary, a group of health care epidemiologists, infectious diseases physicians, and researchers argue for the withdrawal of the universal masking policy given the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M23-0793.

Figures

Figure.. Key milestones and contextual factors during the pandemic to endemic phases.

Transitions during the pandemic to endemic stages and linkage of key milestones and contextual factors to masking recommendations in health care and community settings are illustrated.

Comment in

• Universal Masking in Health Care Settings.
  Jirmanus LZ, Schwartzmann EG, Davids JD, Gullette MM, Killick C. Jirmanus LZ, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2023 Dec;176(12):eL230350. doi: 10.7326/L23-0350. Ann Intern Med. 2023. PMID: 38109748 No abstract available.
• Universal Masking in Health Care Settings.
  Reznick SE. Reznick SE. Ann Intern Med. 2023 Dec;176(12):eL230346. doi: 10.7326/L23-0346. Ann Intern Med. 2023. PMID: 38109749 No abstract available.
• Universal Masking in Health Care Settings.
  Brown TS, Mohareb AM, LaRocque RC. Brown TS, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2023 Dec;176(12):eL230347. doi: 10.7326/L23-0347. Ann Intern Med. 2023. PMID: 38109751 No abstract available.

References

1. 1. Oh A , Abazeed A , Chambers DA . Policy implementation science to advance population health: the potential for learning health policy systems. Front Public Health. 2021;9:681602. [PMID: ] doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.681602 -DOI -PMC -PubMed
2. 1. Kalu IC , Henderson DK , Weber DJ , et al. Back to the future: Redefining “universal precautions” to include masking for all patient encounters. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2023:1-2. [PMID: ] doi: 10.1017/ice.2023.2 -DOI -PubMed
3. 1. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Hierarchy of controls. Updated 17 January 2023. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/default.html on 20 March 2023.
4. 1. Calderwood MS , Deloney VM , Anderson DJ , et al. Policies and practices of SHEA Research Network hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020;41:1127-1135. [PMID: ] doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.303 -DOI -PMC -PubMed
5. 1. Lee E , Cormier K , Sharma A . Face mask use in healthcare settings: effects on communication, cognition, listening effort and strategies for amelioration. Cogn Res Princ Implic. 2022;7:2. [PMID: ] doi: 10.1186/s41235-021-00353-7 -DOI -PMC -PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

• Full Text Sources

  • Atypon
  • Europe PMC
  • Ovid Technologies, Inc.
  • PubMed Central

• Medical

  • MedlinePlus Health Information