Research Plus

Pandemic flu prevention

Physical barriers, including regular hand washing and the wearing of masks, gloves and gowns may be more effective than antiviral drugs in preventing a pandemic influenza epidemic or the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a systematic literature concludes. Meta-analysis of six case-control studies suggests that physical measures are highly effective in preventing the spread of SARS. The effect of adding virucidals or antiseptics to normal hand-washing solutions remains unclear.

British Medical Journal 2007; online first: doi: 10.1136/bmj.39393.510347.BE.  http://www.bmj.com/content/early/2006/12/31/bmj.39393.510347.BE

Tags evidence based practice influenza pandemic sars

Occupational Health at Work February/March 2008 (vol. 04/5) pp37