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Table 1 Factors associated with preferential use of FFP2 vs. surgical masks among 3259 healthcare workers

From: Impact of respirator versus surgical masks on SARS-CoV-2 acquisition in healthcare workers: a prospective multicentre cohort

Risk or protection factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Number of HCW without and with the factor

Frequency of the factor (n and %) in relation to FFP2 use during contact with COVID-19 patients

OR (95% CI)

p value (Fisher's test)

Without

With

Mostly surgical mask (n = 2543)

Mostly FFP2 (n = 716)

Sociodemographic data

      

Age > 50 years

2528

731

604 (24%)

127 (18%)

0.69 (0.56–0.86)

0.001

Sex: male

2645

614

444 (17%)

170 (24%)

1.47 (1.20–1.81)

< 0.001

Living in Germany or Austria

3094

165

104 (4%)

61 (9%)

2.18 (1.55–3.06)

< 0.001

Child in household

2424

835

650 (26%)

185 (26%)

1.01 (0.83–1.23)

0.884

Medical conditions

      

Comorbidity

2066

1193

921 (36%)

272 (38%)

1.08 (0.91–1.28)

0.404

Active smoker

2719

540

426 (17%)

114 (16%)

0.94 (0.74–1.18)

0.649

Pregnant during study

3122

137

113 (4%)

24 (3%)

0.75 (0.46–1.18)

0.246

Behaviour outside of work

      

Prophylactic home remedies

2787

472

363 (14%)

109 (15%)

1.08 (0.85–1.37)

0.548

Social leisure activities

1693

1566

1208 (48%)

358 (50%)

1.11 (0.93–1.31)

0.253

Wearing a mask outside work

2354

905

657 (26%)

248 (35%)

1.52 (1.27–1.82)

< 0.001

Support for stronger public restrictions

2643

616

433 (17%)

183 (26%)

1.67 (1.37–2.05)

< 0.001

HCW specifics

      

Job: Nurse

1535

1724

1309 (51%)

415 (58%)

1.30 (1.10–1.54)

0.002

Job: Physician

2588

671

500 (20%)

171 (24%)

1.28 (1.05–1.57)

0.016

Full-time job (> 80%)

1488

1771

1325 (52%)

446 (62%)

1.52 (1.28–1.81)

< 0.001

Involved in AGP

2055

1204

747 (29%)

457 (64%)

4.24 (3.55–5.07)

< 0.001

Work in intensive care

2971

288

102 (4%)

186 (26%)

8.39 (6.43–10.99)

< 0.001

Contact to > 20 COVID-19 patients

1812

1120

732 (32%)

388 (58%)

2.83 (2.36–3.39)

< 0.001

Behaviour at work

      

Hygiene knowledge

491

2768

2121 (83%)

647 (90%)

1.87 (1.42–2.48)

< 0.001

Regular meals in staff restaurant

1094

2165

1702 (67%)

463 (65%)

0.90 (0.76–1.08)

0.263

Handwashing more frequent

343

2916

2268 (89%)

648 (91%)

1.16 (0.87–1.55)

0.335

Test results

      

Positive SARS-CoV-2 testa

2826

433

352 (14%)

81 (11%)

0.79 (0.61–1.03)

0.081

Negative SARS-CoV-2 testa

1633

1626

1231 (48%)

395 (55%)

1.31 (1.11–1.55)

< 0.001

Use of PPE

      

Always used gogglesb

2362

897

446 (18%)

451 (63%)

7.99 (6.64–9.65)

< 0.001

Always used glovesb

1939

1320

904 (36%)

416 (58%)

2.51 (2.12–2.99)

< 0.001

Always used a gownb

2362

897

437 (17%)

460 (64%)

8.65 (7.17–10.46)

< 0.001

Always used FFP2 during AGP

645

559

242 (32%)

317 (69%)

4.72 (3.65–6.12)

< 0.001

  1. FFP2 filtering facepiece class 2, HCW health care worker, AGP aerosol-generating procedure, PPE personal protective equipment, NA not applicable
  2. aAt least one positive/negative test. The mean number of negative tests per HCW was 0.90 for surgical mask users and 1.11 for FFP2 users
  3. bIn contact with COVID-19 patients outside of AGP