title: SARS transmission among hospital workers in Hong Kong.
abstract: Despite infection control measures, breakthrough transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred for many hospital workers in Hong Kong. We conducted a case-control study of 72 hospital workers with SARS and 144 matched controls. Inconsistent use of goggles, gowns, gloves, and caps was associated with a higher risk for SARS infection (unadjusted odds ratio 2.42 to 20.54, p < 0.05). The likelihood of SARS infection was strongly associated with the amount of personal protection equipment perceived to be inadequate, having <2 hours of infection control training, and not understanding infection control procedures. No significant differences existed between the case and control groups in the proportion of workers who performed high-risk procedures, reported minor protection equipment problems, or had social contact with SARS-infected persons. Perceived inadequacy of personal protection equipment supply, infection control training <2 hours, and inconsistent use of personal protection equipment when in contact with SARS patients were significant independent risk factors for SARS infection.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China. jlau@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Joseph T F
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Kitty S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Tze Wai
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Jean H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Louis Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Augustine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016358:Contact Tracing; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012307:Risk Factors; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires