The Effectiveness of Face Masks in Preventing COVID-19 Transmission: A Systematic Review

SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi; Amirali Karimi; Amir Masoud Afsahi; Pegah Mirzapour; Sanaz Varshochi; Hengameh Mojdeganlou; Paniz Mojdeganlou; Armin Razi; Sanam Alilou; Mohsen Dashti; Afsaneh Ghasemzadeh; Solmaz Saeidi; Esmaeil Mehraeen; Omid Dadras

doi:10.2174/1871526523666230601090905

The Effectiveness of Face Masks in Preventing COVID-19 Transmission: A Systematic Review

Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2023 Jun 1. doi: 10.2174/1871526523666230601090905. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), California, USA.
⁴ Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁵ ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁶ Department of radiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
⁷ Department of Nursing, Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences; Khalkhal, Iran.
⁸ Department of Health Information Technology, Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences, Khalkhal, Iran.
⁹ Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway.

PMID: 37259934
DOI: 10.2174/1871526523666230601090905

Abstract

Introduction: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have been among the cornerstones of COVID-19 prevention. Therefore, evaluating their preventive effects against COVID-19 is crucial. This review aimed to systematically search for the systematic review articles that explored the role of various types of face masks in preventing COVID-19.

Methods: We browsed the keywords of this study in the online databases of Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane on 10th January 2023 and retrieved all the relevant systematic review articles. The records were downloaded into an Endnote file, and the duplicates were removed. A two-step screening process consisting of title/abstract and full-text screenings was conducted to select the most relevant articles. To ensure the validity and reliability of the results, this study adhered to the PRISMA protocol.

Results: A total of 28 systematic reviews were included in this review. Most studies found that face masks are beneficial against viral respiratory infections, such as COVID-19. Different types of masks were evaluated in included studies. It appeared that mask efficacy depends on the material, layers, fitting on the face and user compliance. N 95 respirator had maximum efficacy, especially when used continuously.

Conclusion: Face masks have a beneficial effect against COVID-19. Home masks are less protective than surgical masks or N95 personal breathing masks. Besides, the use of masks may elicit a false sense of security in people, which may lead to poor hand hygiene and violation of social distancing. Therefore, the necessary training should be provided to the public to increase awareness and encourage the right practice of using the mask, emphasizing the preventive effects of washing hands, social distancing, and using a face mask against COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cloth mask; Face mask; Mask; N95; SARS-CoV-2; Surgical mask.