Doctor world

One study found that hygiene, masks, quarantine, all working to stop the spread of the virus. This study appears in the online edition of the journal BMJ 22 September 2009.

Medicines, personal hygiene, use of masks and quarantine, it helps prevent the spread of viral infections like flu. Currently, the researchers showed that the three latter strategy should be given more attention in the plan for a pandemic flu.

In an update of the study in 2007, Dr. Tom Jefferson of the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group in Rome, Italy, and colleagues reviewed the results of 59 studies that studied the effectiveness of strategies to reduce the spread of the virus germs that cause respiratory diseases such as flu and SARS. The researchers looked at studies that compared a number of strategies (quarantine / isolation, keeping sick people from healthy people through other methods, good hygiene) with other interventions, or do nothing.

Reviews found that wearing gloves, gowns and masks are effective, and so did wash their hands more than 10 times a day. This strategy is even more effective when people use more than one of them. Jefferson team also found that the highest-quality studies reported the spread of disease can be transmitted through cleanliness in the household and among young children.

The researchers found limited evidence that the mask type N95, which is not comfortable and expensive, is better than simple surgical masks. They also noted that it is unclear whether one needs to add to the antiseptic soap and water.

The researchers asked the national school program to promote hand washing and emphasize that gloves, gowns, masks and isolation of certain patients the right when there is a high risk of respiratory disease will spread.




Study authors concluded that more resources should be invested to learn what physical interventions are most effective, flexible and cost effective, to minimize the impact of acute respiratory tract infections.