• Benjamin J Cowling, Kwok-Hung Chan, Vicky J Fang, Calvin K Y Cheng, Rita O P Fung, Winnie Wai, Joey Sin, Wing Hong Seto, Raymond Yung, Daniel W S Chu, Billy C F Chiu, Paco W Y Lee, Ming Chi Chiu, Hoi Che Lee, Timothy M Uyeki, Peter M Houck, J S Malik Peiris, and Gabriel M Leung.
• School of Public Health and University of Hong Kong, Cyberport 3, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR. bcowling@hku.hk
• Ann. Intern. Med. 2009 Oct 6; 151 (7): 437-46.

BackgroundFew data are available about the effectiveness of nonpharmaceutical interventions for preventing influenza virus transmission.ObjectiveTo investigate whether hand hygiene and use of facemasks prevents household transmission of influenza.DesignCluster randomized, controlled trial. Randomization was computer generated; allocation was concealed from treating physicians and clinics and implemented by study nurses at the time of the initial household visit. Participants and personnel administering the interventions were not blinded to group assignment. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00425893)SettingHouseholds in Hong Kong.Patients407 people presenting to outpatient clinics with influenza-like illness who were positive for influenza A or B virus by rapid testing (index patients) and 794 household members (contacts) in 259 households.InterventionLifestyle education (control) (134 households), hand hygiene (136 households), or surgical facemasks plus hand hygiene (137 households) for all household members.MeasurementsInfluenza virus infection in contacts, as confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or diagnosed clinically after 7 days.ResultsSixty (8%) contacts in the 259 households had RT-PCR-confirmed influenza virus infection in the 7 days after intervention. Hand hygiene with or without facemasks seemed to reduce influenza transmission, but the differences compared with the control group were not significant. In 154 households in which interventions were implemented within 36 hours of symptom onset in the index patient, transmission of RT-PCR-confirmed infection seemed reduced, an effect attributable to fewer infections among participants using facemasks plus hand hygiene (adjusted odds ratio, 0.33 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.87]). Adherence to interventions varied.LimitationThe delay from index patient symptom onset to intervention and variable adherence may have mitigated intervention effectiveness.ConclusionHand hygiene and facemasks seemed to prevent household transmission of influenza virus when implemented within 36 hours of index patient symptom onset. These findings suggest that nonpharmaceutical interventions are important for mitigation of pandemic and interpandemic influenza.Primary Funding SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.

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