BMC Infectious Diseases (Sep 2024)

Efficacy and feasibility of a novel semi-facial respirator with chitosan nanoparticles on the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare professionals: randomized controlled trial

  • Aline Midori Adati Kubota,
  • Mário Fabrício Fleury Rosa,
  • Solange Baraldi,
  • Janine Araújo Montefusco Vale,
  • Joana D`arc Gonçalves da Silva,
  • Marcella Lemos Brettas Carneiro,
  • Rosimeire Simprini Padula,
  • Rodrigo Haddad,
  • Graziella Anselmo Joanitti,
  • Glécia Virgolino da Silva Luz,
  • Marcus Vinícius Lia Fook,
  • Ivan Ricardo Zimmermann,
  • Suélia de Siqueira Rodrigues Fleury Rosa,
  • Henry Maia Peixoto,
  • Rodrigo Luiz Carregaro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09966-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background Evidence suggests that semi-facial respirators provide protection against contamination in high-risk environments, although the COVID-19 pandemic called for greater protection and viral inactivation capacity. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a novel semi-facial respirator containing chitosan nanoparticles, compared with a conventional N95 respirator on the incidence of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare professionals. The secondary outcomes were influenza infection, usability and comfort. Methods Randomized controlled trial within a large public hospital (reference for COVID-19 patients) carried out between March 2021 and June 2023. We included 230 healthcare professionals exposed to SARS-Cov-2 and influenza, working in emergency departments, hospital wards, and intensive care units. Participants were assessed at baseline, after 10 days, and 21 days of follow-up. Researchers, participants, and outcome assessors were blinded to the allocated groups. Outcomes were analyzed by bivariate and multivariate comparisons using logistic regression. Crude (cOR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were estimated, followed by 95% confidence intervals (CIs 95%). We adopted intention-to-treat (ITT) and complete-case (CC) analyses. Results Baseline characteristics were considered homogeneous between groups, and usability and comfort were reported as excellent in both groups. Non-significant differences were found for all outcomes, both in the ITT and CC analyses. The incidence of COVID-19 and influenza were, respectively, cOR: 0.96 [CI95%: 0.21–4.42] and cOR: 1.25 [CI95%: 0.34–4.62]; and aOR: 1.08 [CI95%: 0.21–5.47] and aOR: 1.11 [CI95%: 0.17–7.01]. Conclusions We found that the incidence of SARS-Cov-2 and influenza infections were similar between the new respirator compared to the conventional respirator. Furthermore, we observed that usability and comfort were similar and considered excellent for both respirators. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04490200, 29/07/2020).

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