Outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in a tertiary hospital in Singapore, linked to an index patient with atypical presentation: epidemiological study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in a tertiary hospital in Singapore, linked to an index patient with atypical presentation, and the lessons learnt from it.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
A tertiary hospital in Singapore.


METHODS
Patients, healthcare workers, and visitors who contracted SARS in Singapore General Hospital.


METHODS
Probable SARS as defined by the World Health Organization.


RESULTS
The index patient presented with gastrointestinal bleeding, initially without changes to his chest radiograph. Altogether 24 healthcare workers, 15 patients, and 12 family members and visitors were infected. The incubation period ranged from three to eight days. Only 13 patients were isolated on their dates of onset.


CONCLUSIONS
Atypical presentation of SARS infection must be taken into consideration when managing patients with a history of contact with SARS patients. The main gap in the containment strategy in this outbreak was the failure to identify the index patient as someone who had been discharged from a ward in another hospital that managed probable SARS cases. Strict infection control measures, a good surveillance system, early introduction of isolation procedures, and vigilant healthcare professionals are essential for controlling outbreaks.
Chow
Khuan Yew
KY
Health Screening Department, Adult Health Division, Health Promotion Board, 3 Second Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168937.
Lee
Chien Earn
CE
Ling
Moi Lin
ML
Heng
Derrick Mok Kwee
DM
Yap
Soon Ghee
SG
D000368:Aged; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D008297:Male; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology