Lack of SARS Transmission among Healthcare Workers, United States
Healthcare workers accounted for a large proportion of persons with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) during the worldwide epidemic of early 2003. We conducted an investigation of healthcare workers exposed to laboratory-confirmed SARS patients in the United States to evaluate infection-contr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2004-02-01
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| Series: | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/2/03-0793_article |
| _version_ | 1818056851382599680 |
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| author | Benjamin J. Park Angela J. Peck Matthew J. Kuehnert Claire Newbern Chad Smelser James A. Comer Daniel B. Jernigan L. Clifford McDonald |
| author_facet | Benjamin J. Park Angela J. Peck Matthew J. Kuehnert Claire Newbern Chad Smelser James A. Comer Daniel B. Jernigan L. Clifford McDonald |
| author_sort | Benjamin J. Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Healthcare workers accounted for a large proportion of persons with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) during the worldwide epidemic of early 2003. We conducted an investigation of healthcare workers exposed to laboratory-confirmed SARS patients in the United States to evaluate infection-control practices and possible SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) transmission. We identified 110 healthcare workers with exposure within droplet range (i.e., 3 feet) to six SARS-CoV–positive patients. Forty-five healthcare workers had exposure without any mask use, 72 had exposure without eye protection, and 40 reported direct skin-to-skin contact. Potential droplet- and aerosol-generating procedures were infrequent: 5% of healthcare workers manipulated a patient’s airway, and 4% administered aerosolized medication. Despite numerous unprotected exposures, there was no serologic evidence of healthcare-related SARS-CoV transmission. Lack of transmission in the United States may be related to the relative absence of high-risk procedures or patients, factors that may place healthcare workers at higher risk for infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T12:35:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9dca056d5bfd4e0f8a5e6b79f3ee05f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1080-6040 1080-6059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T12:35:24Z |
| publishDate | 2004-02-01 |
| publisher | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-9dca056d5bfd4e0f8a5e6b79f3ee05f92022-12-22T01:48:40ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592004-02-0110224424810.3201/eid1002.030793Lack of SARS Transmission among Healthcare Workers, United StatesBenjamin J. ParkAngela J. PeckMatthew J. KuehnertClaire NewbernChad SmelserJames A. ComerDaniel B. JerniganL. Clifford McDonaldHealthcare workers accounted for a large proportion of persons with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) during the worldwide epidemic of early 2003. We conducted an investigation of healthcare workers exposed to laboratory-confirmed SARS patients in the United States to evaluate infection-control practices and possible SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) transmission. We identified 110 healthcare workers with exposure within droplet range (i.e., 3 feet) to six SARS-CoV–positive patients. Forty-five healthcare workers had exposure without any mask use, 72 had exposure without eye protection, and 40 reported direct skin-to-skin contact. Potential droplet- and aerosol-generating procedures were infrequent: 5% of healthcare workers manipulated a patient’s airway, and 4% administered aerosolized medication. Despite numerous unprotected exposures, there was no serologic evidence of healthcare-related SARS-CoV transmission. Lack of transmission in the United States may be related to the relative absence of high-risk procedures or patients, factors that may place healthcare workers at higher risk for infection.https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/2/03-0793_articlesevere acute respiratory distress syndromehealthcare workersnosocomialtransmissionUnited States |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin J. Park Angela J. Peck Matthew J. Kuehnert Claire Newbern Chad Smelser James A. Comer Daniel B. Jernigan L. Clifford McDonald Lack of SARS Transmission among Healthcare Workers, United States Emerging Infectious Diseases severe acute respiratory distress syndrome healthcare workers nosocomial transmission United States |
| title | Lack of SARS Transmission among Healthcare Workers, United States |
| title_full | Lack of SARS Transmission among Healthcare Workers, United States |
| title_fullStr | Lack of SARS Transmission among Healthcare Workers, United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lack of SARS Transmission among Healthcare Workers, United States |
| title_short | Lack of SARS Transmission among Healthcare Workers, United States |
| title_sort | lack of sars transmission among healthcare workers united states |
| topic | severe acute respiratory distress syndrome healthcare workers nosocomial transmission United States |
| url | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/2/03-0793_article |
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