A Call for the Universal Use of Respirators in Healthcare

IN SUMMARY: (a) surgical masks provide inadequate protection against airborne pathogens; (b) the current WHO guidelines are harming healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients; and (c) WHO as a global healthcare safety leader has the power to reduce disease burden in healthcare settings through more effective advocacy. WHO should lead decisively toward safer healthcare by establishing respirators as the universal default for all healthcare encounters, with clearly defined, locally-determined off-ramps based on transparent risk indicators and the use of effective engineering controls. This recommendation would align WHO policy with science and existing safety standards and would improve safety for both patients and healthcare providers.