Researchers at Cambridge University have called for all healthcare workers to be issued with more effective face masks to prevent Covid-19.
The study, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, found that the best mask, called FFP3 cut transmission of the disease by as much as 100 per cent.
Staff wearing standard issue masks had a far greater chance of catching Covid-19.
Addenbrooke’s Hospital, which is part of the University of Cambridge, had been testing its doctors and nurses for Covid-19, since the beginning of the pandemic regardless of whether or not they had the symptoms.
They used this data to inform their move to the higher grade masks.
The hospital stopped using fluid resistant surgical masks (FRSMs) in December 2020 and upgraded them with filtering face piece 3 (FFP3).
FFP3 masks have a close fit and are specifically designed to filter out aerosols.
The study found that those working on Covid wards were 47 times more likely to contract the virus compared to staff working elsewhere in the hospital.
However, after the mask upgrade, the rate of infections among healthcare workers on Covid wards dropped and quickly fell to the level experienced by staff on wards where there were no Covid patients.
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National guidance specifies that healthcare workers should wear surgical masks, except in a few limited situations.
The study says fluid-resistant surgical masks were “insufficient” to protect healthcare workers.
The results have not been peer-reviewed, but they are being released early in order to share the information quickly.
Dr Michael Weekes, of Cambridge University NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, who also worked on the study, said: “Our data suggests there’s an urgent need to look at the PPE offered to healthcare workers on the frontline.
“Upgrading the equipment so that FFP3 masks are offered to all healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 could reduce the number of infections, keep more hospital staff safe and remove some of the burden on already stretched healthcare services caused by absence of key staff due to illness.”
The study concludes that “cases attributed to ward-based exposure fell significantly, with FFP3 respirators providing 31-100 per cent protection (and most likely 100 per cent) against infection from patients with Covid-19”.
The British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and many other professional bodies have long been calling for FFP3 masks to be issued more widely.
In an open letter to the new Health Secretary Sajid Javid, the Fresh Air NHS group of consultants and doctors wrote: “This has important implications for healthcare worker protection as the UK copes with what is hopefully an ‘exit wave’, as well as trying to reduce the massive backlog of other work whilst coping with inevitable staff sickness and isolation.”
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Rose Gallagher, the RCN’s lead for infection prevention and control, told the BBC: “This important study adds even further weight to the RCN’s continuing call for nursing staff to be better protected from Covid-19 and given routine access to the highest levels of respiratory protective equipment whenever they need it.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The safety of the NHS and social care staff has always been our top priority and we continue to work round the clock to deliver PPE to protect those on the frontline.
“Emerging evidence and data are continually monitored and reviewed and guidance will be amended accordingly if appropriate.”
FFP3 masks are not often found on the high street. But there are places where you can buy them online. Chemist Click and UK Meds sells them for around £3.99 for one.
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