WHO Urged To Replace Surgical Masks with Respirators Amid Criticism Over Inadequate Protection Against Airborne Pathogens
A group of experts has urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to revise its guidelines to recommend respirator-level masks for healthcare workers, citing inadequate protection offered by surgical face masks against airborne pathogens. The WHO's current recommendations have been criticized as insufficient in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19.
The letter, which was endorsed by over 2,000 public members and more than 50 senior clinicians and researchers, argues that respirators should be the standard practice for medical interactions to minimize the risk of transmission. The authors point out that surgical masks, commonly used in hospitals and clinics worldwide, offer only limited protection against airborne pathogens.
The letter's authors claim that respirators, such as FFP2/3 standards or N95 masks in the US, can filter tiny particles more effectively than surgical masks. They also argue that these masks should be worn every time doctors and nurses interact with patients to reduce the risk of infection.
Critics of the group's arguments point out that there is limited evidence from randomized controlled trials showing the effectiveness of physical measures in slowing the spread of respiratory viruses. However, the authors counter that physical tests demonstrating the filtering capabilities of respirators provide sufficient evidence to support their recommendations.
The WHO has been criticized for its initial response to COVID-19, including delays in describing the virus as airborne. The letter calls for a revision of these statements to inform the public about the role of airborne respiratory particles in spreading the disease.
In response to the criticism, the WHO has stated that it is reviewing its guidelines on personal protective equipment for health workers and consulting with experts from various health and economic contexts.
A group of experts has urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to revise its guidelines to recommend respirator-level masks for healthcare workers, citing inadequate protection offered by surgical face masks against airborne pathogens. The WHO's current recommendations have been criticized as insufficient in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19.
The letter, which was endorsed by over 2,000 public members and more than 50 senior clinicians and researchers, argues that respirators should be the standard practice for medical interactions to minimize the risk of transmission. The authors point out that surgical masks, commonly used in hospitals and clinics worldwide, offer only limited protection against airborne pathogens.
The letter's authors claim that respirators, such as FFP2/3 standards or N95 masks in the US, can filter tiny particles more effectively than surgical masks. They also argue that these masks should be worn every time doctors and nurses interact with patients to reduce the risk of infection.
Critics of the group's arguments point out that there is limited evidence from randomized controlled trials showing the effectiveness of physical measures in slowing the spread of respiratory viruses. However, the authors counter that physical tests demonstrating the filtering capabilities of respirators provide sufficient evidence to support their recommendations.
The WHO has been criticized for its initial response to COVID-19, including delays in describing the virus as airborne. The letter calls for a revision of these statements to inform the public about the role of airborne respiratory particles in spreading the disease.
In response to the criticism, the WHO has stated that it is reviewing its guidelines on personal protective equipment for health workers and consulting with experts from various health and economic contexts.
just read that 2k+ people think WHO should be using respirators instead of surgical masks in hospitals 
all this time we've been wearing those thin masks thinking they're doing the trick lol 
meanwhile, doctors are still getting infected left & right... sounds like someone's not paying attention to the science 
hope they take these experts seriously and start protecting healthcare workers properly 
... can't we just stick with what works? I mean, surgical masks have been fine for years, right? 
don't need to go full-on respirator level just yet... I get that some experts are saying they're not enough protection, but like, isn't there a middle ground or something? 
maybe a hybrid mask that's better than surgery ones but still easier to use? and what about all the people who can't wear respirators for whatever reason (pregnancy, asthma, etc)? 
we need to make sure everyone's got protection not just some special group of healthcare workers 
? like come on ppl we've been sayin this 4 years now surgical masks r not cuttin it against airborne pathogens! respirators all day, erryday 
they cant just ignore the science and keep puttin people's lives at risk 
I'm not convinced that respirators are the solution here... I think we need more research before we make any drastic changes. Plus, don't get me started on how inconvenient these masks are to wear 
. The WHO's gotta think about practicality too, you know?