Back to the future: Redefining "universal precautions" to include masking for all patient encounters

Area of Science:

• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Healthcare Policy
• Public Health

Background:

• Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance allows for relaxed in-facility masking.
• Understanding of respiratory pathogen transmission, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has evolved.
• Current practices may not fully address ongoing risks in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an updated standard for universal precautions in healthcare settings.
• To advocate for the permanent inclusion of universal masking in routine patient-care interactions.
• To enhance safety for all individuals within healthcare environments.

Main Methods:

• Review of current CDC guidance on masking.
• Analysis of evolving understanding of respiratory pathogen transmission.
• Proposal of an updated universal precautions standard.

Main Results:

• Current guidance permits relaxation of in-facility masking strategies.
• Evolving knowledge necessitates a re-evaluation of transmission control measures.
• A permanent universal masking policy is proposed as an updated standard.

Conclusions:

• Permanent universal masking in routine patient-care interactions is proposed.
• This updated standard enhances safety for patients, healthcare providers (HCPs), and visitors.
• The policy aims to create a safer healthcare environment by prioritizing respiratory pathogen control.