Strategic Masking to Protect Patients from All Respiratory Viral Infections

This article advocates for targeted masking policies in health care settings beyond the SARS-CoV-2 emergency era. It emphasizes that hospitalized and immunocompromised patients remain at elevated risk for severe outcomes from a wide spectrum of respiratory viruses including influenza, RSV, and metapneumovirus. Masking protects patients from both symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission, with studies showing up to 60% reduction in nosocomial infections. The authors propose tying masking requirements to seasonal viral activity or community transmission rates and continuing year-round masking for interactions involving high-risk patients. Balancing protection and practicality, the piece calls for strategic masking as a sustained patient-safety measure.

This article advocates for targeted masking policies in health care settings beyond the SARS-CoV-2 emergency era. It emphasizes that hospitalized and immunocompromised patients remain at elevated risk for severe outcomes from a wide spectrum of respiratory viruses including influenza, RSV, and metapneumovirus. Masking protects patients from both symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission, with studies showing up to 60% reduction in nosocomial infections. The authors propose tying masking requirements to seasonal viral activity or community transmission rates and continuing year-round masking for interactions involving high-risk patients. Balancing protection and practicality, the piece calls for strategic masking as a sustained patient-safety measure.