N95 masks worn to protect against COVID-19 prevented tuberculosis exposure in healthcare workers

• Published in: Annals of medicine and surgery Vol. 76; p. 103515
• Main Authors: Kuwahara, Masaatsu, Takahashi, Chikako, Nishimura, Sota, Shinkai, Takashi, Noma, Mitsuki, Sunakawa, Takuya, Shimizu, Misa, Hirata, Jun-Ichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: COVID-19 pandemic; N95; Prehospital medical care; Short Communication; Tuberculosis; COVID-19 pandemic; Prehospital medical care; Tuberculosis; N95
• ISSN: 2049-0801; 2049-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103515

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare workers in our institution have been equipped with N95 masks when performing aerosol-generating procedures, as these are associated with an increased risk of infection. We present a case in which using an N95 mask prevented tuberculosis (TB) exposure among healthcare workers administering prehospital care in rapid response vehicles. Even after the resolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in the future, wearing N95 masks among healthcare workers is recommended to protect against pathogens, including TB, when performing aerosol-producing procedures or prehospital activities for patients suspected of having respiratory diseases.