{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,26]],"date-time":"2026-02-26T20:06:15Z","timestamp":1772136375212,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":20,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,14]],"date-time":"2024-09-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1726272000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,14]],"date-time":"2024-09-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1726272000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100012681","name":"Universit\u00e4tsklinikum K\u00f6ln","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100012681","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sci Rep"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Patients undergoing allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) are highly susceptible to infections. The consequent use of masks on wards for allo-HSCT has been controversial in the past decades and was not common before the COVID-19 pandemic. We retrospectively compared incidence and outcomes of viral respiratory infections during allo-HSCT on our specialized ward between 01\/2018 and 09\/2020 to the era of FFP2 masking between 10\/2020 and 10\/2022 covering similar seasons of the year. Each group consisted of 150 matched patients. The usage of FFP2 masks reduced the incidence of viral respiratory infections from 20,7% to 2,0% (p\u2009&lt;\u20090.001). This reduced the time on ward from a median of 26\u00a0days to 23.5\u00a0days (p\u2009=\u20090.002). It also resulted in less use of CT-scans (p\u2009=\u20090.003) and bronchoalveolar lavage procedures (p\u2009=\u20090.057). Median time to proof of infection was 21\u00a0days after admission in both groups. No difference was detected in progression free survival, hospital survival or non-relapse mortality (p\u2009=\u20090.78). Our retrospective results indicate that FFP2 masks worn by patients and hospital staff may help to significantly reduce the incidence of viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19, shorten the in-hospital time, and reduce costs without affecting survival.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-72646-y","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,14]],"date-time":"2024-09-14T04:03:03Z","timestamp":1726286583000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Consistent FFP2-masking as part of reducing viral respiratory infections on medical wards for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"T.","family":"Richardson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"D.","family":"Sch\u00fctte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"K.","family":"Feyer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"L.","family":"Grass","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"Hallek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"C.","family":"Scheid","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"F.","family":"Simon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"T.","family":"Braun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"F\u00fcrstenau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"P.","family":"G\u00f6del","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"U.","family":"Holtick","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"72646_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Czypionka, T., Greenhalgh, T., Bassler D. & Bryant M. B. Masks and Face Coverings for the Lay Public. 174(4), 511\u2013520. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7326\/M20-6625 (2020).","DOI":"10.7326\/M20-6625"},{"key":"72646_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, C., Ho, D. Y. & Boeckh, M. Respiratory Viral Infections in Transplant Recipients. In Principles and Practice of Transplant Infectious Diseases. 679\u2013695 (2019).","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4939-9034-4_40"},{"key":"72646_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2021.09.005","volume":"119","author":"DG Partridge","year":"2022","unstructured":"Partridge, D. G. et al. Universal use of surgical masks is tolerated and prevents respiratory viral infection in stem cell transplant recipients. J. Hosp. Infect.119, 182 (2022).","journal-title":"J. Hosp. Infect."},{"issue":"1","key":"72646_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"671","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-022-28291-y","volume":"13","author":"BB Lindsey","year":"2022","unstructured":"Lindsey, B. B. et al. Characterising within-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission events using epidemiological and viral genomic data across two pandemic waves. Nat. Commun.13(1), 671 (2022).","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"issue":"8","key":"72646_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"999","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/ciw451","volume":"63","author":"AD Sung","year":"2016","unstructured":"Sung, A. D. et al. Universal mask usage for reduction of respiratory viral infections after stem cell transplant: a prospective trial. Clin. Infect. Dis.63(8), 999 (2016).","journal-title":"Clin. Infect. Dis."},{"issue":"21","key":"72646_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3263","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2013-12-541359","volume":"123","author":"DP Shah","year":"2014","unstructured":"Shah, D. P. et al. Immunodeficiency scoring index to predict poor outcomes in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients with RSV infections. Blood.123(21), 3263\u20133268 (2014).","journal-title":"Blood."},{"issue":"10","key":"72646_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2885","DOI":"10.1038\/s41375-021-01302-5","volume":"35","author":"P Ljungman","year":"2021","unstructured":"Ljungman, P. et al. COVID-19 and stem cell transplantation; results from an EBMT and GETH multicenter prospective survey. Leukemia.35(10), 2885 (2021).","journal-title":"Leukemia."},{"issue":"3","key":"72646_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"380","DOI":"10.1111\/bjh.14027","volume":"173","author":"FL Dignan","year":"2016","unstructured":"Dignan, F. L. et al. BCSH\/BSBMT\/UK clinical virology network guideline: diagnosis and management of common respiratory viral infections in patients undergoing treatment for haematological malignancies or stem cell transplantation. Br. J. Haematol.173(3), 380\u2013393 (2016).","journal-title":"Br. J. Haematol."},{"issue":"9","key":"72646_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2212","DOI":"10.1038\/s41409-021-01319-5","volume":"56","author":"R De la Puerta","year":"2021","unstructured":"De la Puerta, R. et al. Common seasonal respiratory virus infections in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Bone Marrow Transplant.56(9), 2212\u20132220 (2021).","journal-title":"Bone Marrow Transplant."},{"key":"72646_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/rmv.2336","author":"MS Kim","year":"2022","unstructured":"Kim, M. S. et al. Comparative effectiveness of N95, surgical or medical, and non-medical facemasks in protection against respiratory virus infection: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Rev. Med. Virol.https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/rmv.2336 (2022).","journal-title":"Rev. Med. Virol."},{"key":"72646_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cegh.2021.100835","volume":"12","author":"S Das","year":"2021","unstructured":"Das, S. et al. A comprehensive review of various categories of face masks resistant to Covid-19. Clin. Epidemiol. Global Health.12, 100835 (2021).","journal-title":"Clin. Epidemiol. Global Health."},{"key":"72646_CR12","unstructured":"City of Cologne. https:\/\/www.corona-in-zahlen.de\/landkreise\/sk%20k%C3%B6ln\/. (2024)."},{"key":"72646_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3892\/etm.2022.11499","author":"S Wu","year":"2022","unstructured":"Wu, S. et al. Preventive measures significantly reduced the risk of nosocomial infection in elderly inpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exp. Ther. Med.https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3892\/etm.2022.11499 (2022).","journal-title":"Exp. Ther. Med."},{"issue":"11","key":"72646_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1934","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/cix681","volume":"65","author":"V Offeddu","year":"2017","unstructured":"Offeddu, V., Yung, C. F., Low, M. S. F. & Tam, C. C. Effectiveness of masks and respirators against respiratory infections in healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin. Infect. Dis.65(11), 1934 (2017).","journal-title":"Clin. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"72646_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2021.12.010","volume":"121","author":"A Ambrosch","year":"2022","unstructured":"Ambrosch, A., Luber, D., Klawonn, F. & Kabesch, M. A strict mask policy for hospital staff effectively prevents nosocomial influenza infections and mortality: monocentric data from five consecutive influenza seasons. J. Hosp. Infect.121, 82\u201390 (2022).","journal-title":"J. Hosp. Infect."},{"issue":"2","key":"72646_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajic.2015.09.005","volume":"44","author":"H Arefian","year":"2016","unstructured":"Arefian, H. et al. Extra length of stay and costs because of health care\u2013associated infections at a German university hospital. Am. J. Infect. Control.44(2), 160\u2013166 (2016).","journal-title":"Am. J. Infect. Control."},{"issue":"22","key":"72646_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2165","DOI":"10.1182\/blood.2021012431","volume":"138","author":"R Zeiser","year":"2021","unstructured":"Zeiser, R. & Teshima, T. Nonclassical manifestations of acute GVHD. Blood.138(22), 2165\u20132172 (2021).","journal-title":"Blood."},{"issue":"2","key":"72646_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44364","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-044364","volume":"11","author":"M Bakhit","year":"2021","unstructured":"Bakhit, M. et al. Original research: Downsides of face masks and possible mitigation strategies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open.11(2), 44364 (2021).","journal-title":"BMJ Open."},{"issue":"18","key":"72646_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6655","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17186655","volume":"17","author":"JL Scheid","year":"2020","unstructured":"Scheid, J. L., Lupien, S. P., Ford, G. S. & West, S. L. Commentary: Physiological and psychological impact of face mask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health17(18), 6655 (2020).","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"72646_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1111\/1460-6984.12578","volume":"56","author":"H Marler","year":"2021","unstructured":"Marler, H. & Ditton, A. \u201cI\u2019m smiling back at you\u201d: Exploring the impact of mask wearing on communication in healthcare. Int. J. Lang. Commun. Disord.56(1), 205\u2013214 (2021).","journal-title":"Int. J. Lang. Commun. Disord."}],"updated-by":[{"DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-87738-6","type":"correction","label":"Correction","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]],"date-time":"2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1739923200000}}],"container-title":["Scientific Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-72646-y.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-72646-y","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-72646-y.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]],"date-time":"2025-02-19T08:45:09Z","timestamp":1739954709000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-72646-y"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,14]]},"references-count":20,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12]]}},"alternative-id":["72646"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-024-72646-y","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-3578516\/v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["2045-2322"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2045-2322","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,14]]},"assertion":[{"value":"8 November 2023","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"9 September 2024","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"14 September 2024","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"19 February 2025","order":4,"name":"change_date","label":"Change Date","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"Correction","order":5,"name":"change_type","label":"Change Type","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"A Correction to this paper has been published:","order":6,"name":"change_details","label":"Change Details","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-025-87738-6","URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-025-87738-6","order":7,"name":"change_details","label":"Change Details","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"21481"}}