The unmasking of delivery room routine

Abstract

SummaryThe incidence of puerperal infection was determined in a control series of 1750 consecutive mothers, while face masks were worn routinely in the delivery room. Face masks were then totally abandoned in the delivery room and the incidence of puerperal infection was again determined in a further series of 1750 consecutive mothers. There was no difference in the incidence of puerperal infection between the masked and unmasked groups, suggesting that face masks do not contribute to the prevention of puerperal infection.