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. 2022 Oct;43(10):1408-1412.
doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.415. Epub 2021 Oct 1.

Viral whole-genome sequencing to assess impact of universal masking on SARS-CoV-2 transmission among pediatric healthcare workers

Larry K Kociolek  1   2 , Ami B Patel  1   2 , Judd F Hultquist  1 , Egon A Ozer  1 , Lacy M Simons  1 , Matthew McHugh  2 , William J Muller  1   2 , Ramon Lorenzo-Redondo  1
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Viral whole-genome sequencing to assess impact of universal masking on SARS-CoV-2 transmission among pediatric healthcare workers

Larry K Kociolek et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To identify the impact of universal masking on COVID-19 incidence and putative SARS-CoV-2 transmissions events among children's hospital healthcare workers (HCWs).

Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Setting: Single academic free-standing children's hospital.

Methods: We performed whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2- PCR-positive samples collected from HCWs 3 weeks before and 6 weeks after implementing a universal masking policy. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to identify clusters of clonally related SARS-CoV-2 indicative of putative transmission events. We measured COVID-19 incidence, SARS-CoV-2 test positivity rates, and frequency of putative transmission events before and after the masking policy was implemented.

Results: HCW COVID-19 incidence and test positivity declined from 14.3 to 4.3 cases per week, and from 18.4% to 9.0%, respectively. Putative transmission events were only identified prior to universal masking.

Conclusions: A universal masking policy was associated with reductions in HCW COVID-19 infections and occupational acquisition of SARS-CoV-2.

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