Infection prevention and control risk assessment and policy for respiratory viral infections in National Health Service trusts in England: a national survey.

Foster, CR.; Weston, D.; Maynard-Smith, L.; McGuire, E.; Taylor-Egbeyemi, J.; Carter, H.; Fry, C.; Ritchie, L.; Wilcox, M.; Reilly, JS.; Brown, CS.; Sharp, A.

Infection prevention and control risk assessment and policy for respiratory viral infections in National Health Service trusts in England: a national survey.

All Authors

Foster, CR.

Weston, D.

Maynard-Smith, L.

McGuire, E.

Taylor-Egbeyemi, J.

Carter, H.

Fry, C.

Ritchie, L.

Wilcox, M.

Reilly, JS.

Show 2 more

LTHT Author

Wilcox, Mark

LTHT Department

Pathology
Microbiology

Publication Date

2026

Item Type

Journal Article

Subject

HEALTH WORKFORCE , INFECTION , INFECTION CONTROL , VIRUS DISEASES , RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS , DISEASE TRANSMISSION, INFECTIOUS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Guidance on the use of fluid-resistant surgical masks (FRSMs) and filtering facepiece protection level 3 (FFP3) respirator masks by healthcare staff in England is produced nationally and applied locally by hospital trusts. In April 2022, national infection prevention and control guidance was updated with reference to the importance of local risk assessment when considering the use of FFP3 respirator masks. AIM: Our aim was to evaluate local hospital policies for use of face masks and risk assessment for healthcare staff. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey (February-March 2023) of National Health Service trusts in England was conducted. Responses were analysed using Fisher's exact tests and the framework approach. RESULTS: Fifty nine percent (109/186) of eligible hospital trusts responded. All trusts required staff to wear FRSMs or FFP3 respirator masks when providing direct care to patients with suspected respiratory viral infection (RVI), 87% (95/109) and 13% (14/109), respectively. FFP3 respirator masks were required by 13% of trusts (14/109) when providing direct care to individuals with suspected RVI and by 9% of trusts (10/109) when present in a bay/ward with patients with suspected RVI. Over half of the trusts used locally developed risk assessment tools. CONCLUSIONS: There was clear variation in policies for use of face masks and use of workplace and individual risk assessments across hospital trusts. There was also variation in application of mask use, fit testing and audit of adherence. Further work is required to explore whether development of further guidance and national implementation tools could reduce unwarranted variation. Crown