title: Infection control measures for operative procedures in severe acute respiratory syndrome-related patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Singapore reported its first case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in early March 2003 and was placed on the World Health Organization's list of SARS-affected countries on March 15, 2003. During the outbreak, Tan Tock Seng Hospital was designated as the national SARS hospital in Singapore to manage all known SARS patients. Stringent infection control measures were introduced to protect healthcare workers and control intrahospital transmission of SARS. Work-flow processes for surgery were extensively modified.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors describe the development of infection control measures, the conduct of surgical procedures, and the management of high-risk procedures during the SARS outbreak.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one operative procedures, including 15 high-risk procedures (surgical tracheostomy), were performed on SARS-related patients. One hundred twenty-four healthcare workers had direct contact with SARS patients during these procedures. There was no transmission of SARS within the operating room complex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Staff personal protection, patient risk categorization, and reorganization of operating room workflow processes formed the key elements for the containment of SARS transmission. Lessons learned during this outbreak will help in the planning and execution of infection control measures, should another outbreak occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Tan Tock Sang Hospital, Singapore. victor_chee@ttsh.com.sg
authors.forename: Victor Wei Ter
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: Mark Li-Chung
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: Sow Fong
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yeow Choy
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Ngek Mien
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Chin
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*