Does the use of surgical face masks reduce postoperative infections in traumatic wounds sutured outside hospital? A randomized study at a Norwegian casualty center

CONCLUSIONS: Despite a higher percentage of postoperative infections in the unmasked than in the masked group (12.5% versus 10.2%), the difference was not statistically significant (p = .6). This might imply that the use of facemasks during suture of traumatic wounds in an outpatient setting does not significantly reduce the number of infections. However, due to the covid pandemic, the study had to be prematurely stopped before the planned number of participants had been recruited (n = 594). This increases the risk of type II error.PMID:38423090 | DOI:10.1080/02813432.2024.2315438

Source: Primary Care - February 29, 2024 Category: Primary Care Authors: Kristoffer Holen S ælen Synne Hatlemark Christina Brudvik Torbj ørn Hiis Bergh Soosaipillai V Bernardshaw Knut Steen Source Type: research