title: Low prevalence of subclinical severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus infection among hospital healthcare workers in Hong Kong.
abstract: We recruited 688 hospital healthcare workers who cared for patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and did not develop the disease in the Hong Kong outbreak in 2003. A questionnaire survey was conducted and serum samples were collected for SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) antibody. The high-risk procedures performed and the types of unprotected exposures were recorded for analysis. Only 1 asymptomatic nurse had positive serological test. The result demonstrates the low rate of subclinical SARS-CoV infection in hospital healthcare workers and that the infection control practice against SARS in Hong Kong's hospitals during the outbreak was highly effective.
authors: Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China. laist@ha.org.hk
authors: Thomas Sik To
authors: TS
authors: Lai
authors: Tak
authors: T
authors: Keung Ng
authors: Wing Hong
authors: WH
authors: Seto
authors: Loretta
authors: L
authors: Yam
authors: Kin Ip
authors: KI
authors: Law
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006282:Health Personnel; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral