Personal protective masks for COVID-19 prevention: quick systematic review

CONTEXT: Recommendations on the use of masks to protect against infection by healthcare professionals and the population are conflicting, as well as epidemiological data on their relative effectiveness against Covid-19 are lacking. GOALS: Identify, systematically evaluate and summarize the best available scientific evidence on the effectiveness and safety of using individual protective masks for Covid-19. METHODS: Rapid systematic review (rapid review methodology). RESULTS: After the selection process, three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two ongoing clinical studies were included. CONCLUSION: This rapid systematic review identified three RCTs with limited methodological quality that assessed the effects of using personal protective masks to prevent respiratory infections other than COVID-19. Based on the findings of these studies, the effectiveness and safety of the use of individual protective masks for COVID-19 needs to be better evaluated in studies specific to this condition and with greater methodological rigor. (AU)