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European Journal of Medical Research
Published in: European Journal of Medical Research 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Coronavirus | Review

Airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the role of face mask to prevent it: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Author: Seyed-Amir Tabatabaeizadeh

Published in: European Journal of Medical Research | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background and aims

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), belonging to the Coronaviridae family, is agent of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, Hubei province of China, in early December 2019 and is now considered a pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the role of face mask to prevent it.

Methods

A systematic search for English-language literature was done via PUBMED/Medline and Google Scholar up to October 2020. There was two search strategy; for airborne transmission and the role of face mask for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Based on a fixed and random effects model, the RR and 95% CI were used to evaluate the combined risk. This meta-analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) Guidelines.

Results

After eligibility assessment, four articles with a total of 7688 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The result of this meta-analysis has shown significant reduction in infection with face mask use; the pooled RR (95%CI) was 0.12 [0.06, 0.27] (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that there is association between face mask use and reduction of COVID-19. However, COVID-19 spreads primarily with contact routes and respiratory droplets, but its transmissibility has many mysteries yet and there is controversy about airborne transmission of COVID-19.
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Metadata
Title
Airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the role of face mask to prevent it: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Author
Seyed-Amir Tabatabaeizadeh
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
European Journal of Medical Research / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2047-783X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-020-00475-6

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