Source control (respiratory disease)

This article is about the strategy for reducing disease transmission. For the sepsis management strategy, see Sepsis § Source control. For other uses, see Source control (disambiguation).

Certified respirators, without exhalation valves, are the recommended form of source control.
In hospitals, proper source control protocols are essential.

Source control is a strategy for reducing disease transmission by blocking respiratory secretions produced through breathing, speaking, coughing, sneezing or singing.[1] Multiple source control techniques can be used in hospitals, but for the general public wearing personal protective equipment during epidemics or pandemics, respirators provide the greatest source control, followed by surgical masks, with cloth face masks recommended for use by the public only when there are shortages of both respirators and surgical masks.

  1. ^ Naunheim MR, Bock J, Doucette PA, Hoch M, Howell I, Johns MM, et al. (September 2021). "Safer Singing During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: What We Know and What We Don't". Journal of Voice. 35 (5): 765–771. doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.06.028. PMC 7330568. PMID 32753296.