SARS in Healthcare Facilities, Toronto and Taiwan
The healthcare setting was important in the early spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in both Toronto and Taiwan. Healthcare workers, patients, and visitors were at increased risk for infection. Nonetheless, the ability of individual SARS patients to transmit disease was quite variabl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2004-05-01
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| Series: | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/5/03-0791_article |
| _version_ | 1811270682278887424 |
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| author | L. Clifford McDonald Andrew E. Simor Ih-Jen Su Susan Maloney Marianna Ofner Kow-Tong Chen James F. Lando Allison McGeer Min-Ling Lee Daniel B. Jernigan |
| author_facet | L. Clifford McDonald Andrew E. Simor Ih-Jen Su Susan Maloney Marianna Ofner Kow-Tong Chen James F. Lando Allison McGeer Min-Ling Lee Daniel B. Jernigan |
| author_sort | L. Clifford McDonald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The healthcare setting was important in the early spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in both Toronto and Taiwan. Healthcare workers, patients, and visitors were at increased risk for infection. Nonetheless, the ability of individual SARS patients to transmit disease was quite variable. Unrecognized SARS case-patients were a primary source of transmission and early detection and intervention were important to limit spread. Strict adherence to infection control precautions was essential in containing outbreaks. In addition, grouping patients into cohorts and limiting access to SARS patients minimized exposure opportunities. Given the difficulty in implementing several of these measures, controls were frequently adapted to the acuity of SARS care and level of transmission within facilities. Although these conclusions are based only on a retrospective analysis of events, applying the experiences of Toronto and Taiwan to SARS preparedness planning efforts will likely minimize future transmission within healthcare facilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:06:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88db29e0b0fb4351ac3f1a576e9e7665 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1080-6040 1080-6059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:06:27Z |
| publishDate | 2004-05-01 |
| publisher | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-88db29e0b0fb4351ac3f1a576e9e76652022-12-22T03:14:55ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592004-05-0110577778110.3201/eid1005.030791SARS in Healthcare Facilities, Toronto and TaiwanL. Clifford McDonaldAndrew E. SimorIh-Jen SuSusan MaloneyMarianna OfnerKow-Tong ChenJames F. LandoAllison McGeerMin-Ling LeeDaniel B. JerniganThe healthcare setting was important in the early spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in both Toronto and Taiwan. Healthcare workers, patients, and visitors were at increased risk for infection. Nonetheless, the ability of individual SARS patients to transmit disease was quite variable. Unrecognized SARS case-patients were a primary source of transmission and early detection and intervention were important to limit spread. Strict adherence to infection control precautions was essential in containing outbreaks. In addition, grouping patients into cohorts and limiting access to SARS patients minimized exposure opportunities. Given the difficulty in implementing several of these measures, controls were frequently adapted to the acuity of SARS care and level of transmission within facilities. Although these conclusions are based only on a retrospective analysis of events, applying the experiences of Toronto and Taiwan to SARS preparedness planning efforts will likely minimize future transmission within healthcare facilities.https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/5/03-0791_articlesevere acute respiratory syndromeinfection controldelivery of healthcareTaiwanCanada |
| spellingShingle | L. Clifford McDonald Andrew E. Simor Ih-Jen Su Susan Maloney Marianna Ofner Kow-Tong Chen James F. Lando Allison McGeer Min-Ling Lee Daniel B. Jernigan SARS in Healthcare Facilities, Toronto and Taiwan Emerging Infectious Diseases severe acute respiratory syndrome infection control delivery of healthcare Taiwan Canada |
| title | SARS in Healthcare Facilities, Toronto and Taiwan |
| title_full | SARS in Healthcare Facilities, Toronto and Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | SARS in Healthcare Facilities, Toronto and Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS in Healthcare Facilities, Toronto and Taiwan |
| title_short | SARS in Healthcare Facilities, Toronto and Taiwan |
| title_sort | sars in healthcare facilities toronto and taiwan |
| topic | severe acute respiratory syndrome infection control delivery of healthcare Taiwan Canada |
| url | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/5/03-0791_article |
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