Mask wearing by COVID-19 index cases reduces SARS-CoV-2 transmission to household contacts


Por: Godoy, P, Pardos, J, Cenoz, MG, Parrón, I, Martínez-Baz, I, Ferras, J, Rius, C, Godoy, S, Toledo, D, Sanz, I, Follia, N, Miret, C, Alsedà, M, Plans-Rubió, P, Carol, M, Bes, N, Sala, MR, Caylà, J, Muñoz-Almagro, C, Castilla, J, Domínguez, A

Publicada: 6 oct 2025
Resumen:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact on SARS-CoV-2 transmission prevention of mask wearing by index cases and their household contacts. A prospective study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to household contacts aged >= 18 years was conducted between May 2022 and February 2024 in Spain. Contacts underwent a rapid antigen test on day zero and a real-time polymerase chain reaction test 7 days later if results were negative. The dependent variable was SARS-CoV-2 infection in contacts. Index case and contact mask use effects were estimated using the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). Studied were 230 household contacts, mean (standard deviation) age 53.3 (16.6) years, and 47.8% (110/230) women. Following index case diagnosis, 36.1% of contacts (83/230) used a mask, and 54.3% (125/230) were exposed to a mask-wearing index case. Infection incidence in contacts was 45.2% (104/230) and was lower in contacts exposed to mask-wearing index cases (36.0% vs. 56.2%; p < 0.002). The logistic regression model indicated a protective effect for contacts of both index case mask use (aOR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.15-0.65) and vaccination (aOR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.08-0.77). Index case mask use reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission to contacts, while mask effectiveness was not observed for contacts.

Filiaciones:
Godoy, P:
 Univ Lleida, Inst Recerca Biomed IRB Lleida, Lleida, Spain

 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain

Pardos, J:
 Univ Lleida, Inst Recerca Biomed IRB Lleida, Lleida, Spain

 Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Dept Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Cenoz, MG:
 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain

 Inst Salud Publ Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain

Parrón, I:
 Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Dept Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Martínez-Baz, I:
 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain

 Inst Salud Publ Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain

Ferras, J:
 Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Dept Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Rius, C:
 Agencia Salut Publ Barcelona, Serv Epidemiol, Barcelona, Spain

Godoy, S:
 Inst Catala Salut ICS, Dept Salut, Lleida, Spain

Toledo, D:
 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain

 Univ Barcelona, Fac Med & Ciencies Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Sanz, I:
 Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Dept Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Follia, N:
 Inst Salud Publ Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain

Miret, C:
 Univ Lleida, Inst Recerca Biomed IRB Lleida, Lleida, Spain

 Inst Catala Salut ICS, Dept Salut, Lleida, Spain

Alsedà, M:
 Univ Lleida, Inst Recerca Biomed IRB Lleida, Lleida, Spain

 Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Dept Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Plans-Rubió, P:
 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain

 Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Dept Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Carol, M:
 Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Dept Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Bes, N:
 Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Dept Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Sala, MR:
 Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Dept Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Caylà, J:
 TB Res Unit Fdn, Barcelona, Spain

Muñoz-Almagro, C:
 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain

 Hosp St Joan Deu, Inst Recerca St Joan Deu, R D I Microbiol, Barcelona, Spain

 Univ Int Catalunya, Med Dept, Barcelona, Spain

Castilla, J:
 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain

 Inst Salud Publ Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain

Domínguez, A:
 Inst Salud Carlos III, CIBER Epidemiol & Salud Publ CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain

 Univ Barcelona, Fac Med & Ciencies Salut, Barcelona, Spain
ISSN: 09502688





EPIDEMIOLOGY & INFECTION
Editorial
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS, 32 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY 10013-2473 USA, Reino Unido
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 153 Número:
Páginas:
WOS Id: 001597556900001
ID de PubMed: 41047709
imagen Green Published, Green Submitted, gold

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