[An investigation on nosocomial infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome in health-care workers at 13 key hospitals in Guangdong Province].
OBJECTIVE
To analysis the risk factors influencing nosocomial infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in health-care workers and to evaluate effectiveness of its control and preventive measures in 13 key hospitals caring for SARS patients.


METHODS
Number of SARS patients, clinical conditions of them, its attack rate in health-care workers, and characteristics of hospitals, including their environment, isolating measures, etc. were investigated at the 13 hospital in Guangzhou to analyze the risk factors influencing nosocomial infection of SARS and its attack rates in health-care workers before and after implementation of preventive measures and to evaluate their effectiveness.


RESULTS
Totally, 841 patients with SARS were treated at the 13 hospitals in Guangzhou and 285 health-care workers caring for them infected nosocomially. Attack rate in health-care workers was higher at general hospitals, hospital accepting more cases in critical conditions and hospitals with poor precautious measures, and lower in hospitals with isolated wards or areas, or department of infection, specially caring for SARS patients, and those with effective intervention measures to prevent secondary infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Nosocomial infection of SARS in health-care workers was affected by clinical condition of SARS patients, characteristics and environment of hospitals and their personal protective measures adopted.
Zou
Qin
Q
Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510300, China.
Lin
Wei-sheng
WS
Du
Lin
L
Yin
Wen-wu
WW
Zhang
Xian-chang
XC
Gao
Li-dong
LD
Wang
Ming
M
Liang
Wen-jia
WJ
Li
Ling-hui
LH
Zhou
Duan-hua
DH
Luo
Bu-fan
BF
Zhong
Wen-long
WL
Zhou
Hai
H
Lin
Jin-yan
JY
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003428:Cross Infection; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*