An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome among hospital workers in a community hospital in Hong Kong.
BACKGROUND
During outbreaks, hospital workers are at high risk for nosocomial infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus.


OBJECTIVE
To examine how hospital workers became infected and whether they transmit the virus to their families.


METHODS
Retrospective descriptive study.


METHODS
529-bed community hospital in Hong Kong.


METHODS
40 hospital workers infected with SARS-associated coronavirus over a 6-week period (25 March through 5 May 2003).


METHODS
Percentage of infected hospital workers according to job category.


RESULTS
The cumulative incidence was highest among health care assistants, followed by physicians and nurses (8%, 5%, and 4%, respectively). Most hospital workers were infected from direct contact with patients with SARS, who primarily were in general wards and had unsuspected infection. At the time of contact, all hospital workers had used masks but not necessarily other protective devices. Affected hospital workers did not infect their families.


CONCLUSIONS
Before isolation of all patients with clinically confirmed or suspected SARS, routine use of several protective devices, and training of staff in infection control, many health care workers were infected with SARS from patients with unsuspected cases.
Ho
Alice S
AS
Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Sung
Joseph J Y
JJ
Chan-Yeung
Moira
M
D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission