title: Preparedness of the cardiac catheterization laboratory for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and other epidemics.
abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly contagious disease that has led to large hospital and community outbreaks, necessitating stringent infection control in its management. Among 90 SARS patients in our institution in the 2003 outbreak, 2 underwent cardiac catheterization. We report the personal respiratory protection and environmental control measures implemented to minimize the risk of droplets spread during these procedures, including re-engineering of the ventilation system of the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL). The report highlights the importance of collaboration of CCL personnel with relevant hospital engineering and management teams to develop a contingency infection control plan to prepare for future outbreaks of SARS or other epidemics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong. tsuikinl@netvigator.com
authors.forename: Kin-Lam
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.forename: Shu-Kin
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Man-Ching
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kwok-Keung
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Tat-Chi
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Tak-Sun
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Chi-Kin
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Kenneth Ka-Hing
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Loretta Yin-Chun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yam
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011481:Protective Clothing; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D014691:Ventilation / Q000379:methods*