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Arjun Srinivasan, MD; Trish M. Perl, MD, MSc

JAMA. 2009;302(17):1903-1904. Published online October 1, 2009 (doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1494).

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic has revived debate about the role of respiratory protection in preventing the transmission of influenza to health care personnel (HCP). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for preventing transmission of seasonal influenza are intended to limit exposure to large respiratory droplets and recommend the use of a medical (surgical) mask during the care of a patient with influenza as part of a comprehensive infection control strategy.^1-2 However, data suggest that under certain conditions, influenza viruses can be transmitted via smaller particles that evade filtration by such masks.³ Unlike medical masks, N95 particulate respirators protect wearers from small particles when appropriately designed and worn.⁴ Recommendations to prevent influenza transmission take on special importance during pandemics, when there is little, if any, native immunity and vaccine is not available immediately.⁵

During the current pandemic, public health . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Author Affiliations: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (Dr Srinivasan); School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland (Dr Perl).

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