Effectiveness of Cloth Mask Washing Methods in Reducing Hospital Infection Risk

Abstract

Review of a Journal Article Information Literacy Assignment Describe the subject of this article. What is the topic of this study? “Contamination and washing of cloth masks and risk of infection among hospital health workers in Vietnam” What is/are the variable(s) of the data? The study encompasses both independent and dependent variables. The independent variables are the type of masks for instance those wearing two-layered cloth masks and health workers wearing medical masks. The other independent variable is the washing method for the mask types for instance washing using one’s hands and hospital laundry (washing machines). The dependent variables are the infections and the viral contamination. The different washing methods of the masks are used to assess the infection rates over a span of four weeks. Viral contamination is measured to check on the presence of the rhinovirus on the medical and cloth masks. Other variables considered for this experiment are age, gender, the number of times washing the masks, and the work setting of the different healthcare workers for instance pediatrics or the ICU. What is the sample size? The authors used a sample size of 607 HCWs aged above 18 years working in high-risk wards and working full-time. The two layered masks were offered for the control experiment while comparing them with medical masks. What is the method of sampling? Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) What are the null and alternative hypotheses? Null; There is no significant difference in the risk of infection among hospital health workers wearing cloth masks compared to hand washing and hospital laundry (machine washing). Alternative Hypothesis: There is a significant difference in the risk of infection among hospital health workers wearing cloth masks, with a higher risk associated with hand washing compared to the hospital laundry methods. Summarize the statistical ideas of this article. The statistical ideas incorporated in this article try to ascertain the appropriateness of hospital laundry of masks compared to hand washing regarding the risk to infections. The article employs chi-square tests to ascertain the differences in infection rates in relation to the types of masks, washing methods, and the various groups in the hospital. It also employs the Kaplan-Meier survival plots and Cox proportional hazards models in analysis of the infection rates in relation to the detriments associated with the types of masks, washing methods and the various groups. A sub study is also conducted on viral contamination in assessing the cleanliness and safety of the cloth and medical masks. What is the result of this study? Use the data presented to highlight the result. (remember to cite your sources) The article provided results on viral contamination, infection risks rates and the washing methods, results on the types of masks, the washing frequency, and the contamination sub study. Based on the work setting high rates of infection among cloth mask users were at 12% at the emergency department and 10% at the ICU. Regarding Infection and Washing methods, MacIntyre et al., found out that “The risk of infection was just over double for HCWs who self-washed their cloth masks by hand compared with using the hospital laundry. The HR of infection for self-washing was 2.04 (95% CI 1.03 to 4.00); p=0.04. and there was no significant difference in infection rate between cloth masks washed in the hospital laundry Figure 2 Mask testing. and medical masks (p=0.5)” (p 3). Comparing cloth masks with medical masks MacIntyre et al., ascertained that both medical and cloth masks were contaminated and only cloth masks...