Masks

[Jolly]

I think a properly fitted N95 works to lower risk of infection, but it's only a piece of the protocol. Hand hygiene, contaminated surface awareness, fomites, etc.

Even with transmission awareness, healthcare workers screw up protocol. The general public doesn't even come close and given daily life, I don't think they can.

[George K]

Child mask mandates for COVID-19

Results: We screened 597 studies and included 22 in the final analysis. There were no randomised controlled trials in children assessing the benefits of mask wearing to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection or transmission. The six observational studies reporting an association between child masking and lower infection rate or antibody seropositivity had critical (n=5) or serious (n=1) risk of bias; all six were potentially confounded by important differences between masked and unmasked groups and two were shown to have non-significant results when reanalysed. Sixteen other observational studies found no association between mask wearing and infection or transmission.

Conclusions: Real-world effectiveness of child mask mandates against SARS-CoV-2 transmission or infection has not been demonstrated with high-quality evidence. The current body of scientific data does not support masking children for protection against COVID-19.

[LuFins Dad]

But it’s just common sense. I saw it on TV…

[LuFins Dad]

I think Jolly was right in that an N95 can have some positive effect if used properly and in conjunction with other steps. Most everyone didn’t use properly and with all of the other steps. And kids? No chance.

[Copper]

And politicians? Only when the cameras were on.

[Jolly]

Kids? Proper mask and infection control protocol?

Fuhgeddaboutit.

[Jolly]

And...proving that I live life dangerously...My phlebe was having trouble sticking an 8-month old baby this weekend. Folks, when sticking a young'un of that size, I learned without gloves and the gloves come off. I have to feel.

Knew the child's grandmother...She's an MLT that used to work for me. So, no problem with taking my gloves off. Wash before and afterwards.

Anyway...Ran the swabs when I walked back in the lab. Flu A -, Flu B - COV -. RSV +.

Yep, that time of the year...

[George K]

@Jolly said in Masks:

And...proving that I live life dangerously..

I never wore gloves with starting an IV, drawing blood, or putting in an arterial line. When doing internal jugulars, I did.

Ditto intubating people.

I was trained in a different era, and we just didn't even consider it.

I put down NG tubes with my bare hands as well.

Of course, now things are different.

[Jolly]

They are, but I don't recall more transmission problems or accidental needlesticks back in the old days. The only time I remember gloving was with the HIV patients, back when we didn't know what the disease was.

BTW, I've had one needlestick in 43 years, and that was with a clean needle.

Second BTW...I'm also old enough to have used glass syringes... With resharpened and autoclaved needles.

[George K]

@Jolly said in Masks:

.I'm also old enough to have used glass syringes

Still used them for epidurals, up until the last day I did OB (2014?).

Glass bottles, too.

Of course, my cavalier attitude might have contributed to my contracting hepatitis C.

(which I cleared spontaneously and have no residual, for those of you who care)

[George K]

[Jolly]

@George-K said in Masks:

@Jolly said in Masks:

.I'm also old enough to have used glass syringes

Still used them for epidurals, up until the last day I did OB (2014?).

Glass bottles, too.

Of course, my cavalier attitude might have contributed to my contracting hepatitis C.

(which I cleared spontaneously and have no residual, for those of you who care)

If you work in direct patient care, no matter how careful you are, you will be exposed to multiple transmissible diseases. I used to tell kids, if that bothers you, be an accountant.