Investigation of the influencing factors on severe acute respiratory syndrome among health care workers.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective factors and risk factors of nosocomial infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) among health care workers (HCWs), and thus provide the scientific basis for prevention and control of nosocomial infection.


METHODS
With the case-control study, a standardized questionnaire was used for data collection in three general hospitals where nosocomial infection had occurred. Univariate analysis was done at first. All concerned factors about SARS infection were scanned by using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test one by one, and determined as to whether they were risk factors or protective factors according to odd ratio (OR) score. Then, multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to re-analyze the picked-out factors for finding out which factors played independent roles.


RESULTS
Twenty-two factors (nineteen protective factors and three risk factors), among the total fifty-six factors, were significantly associated with SARS infection. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression revealed that factors such as double exposure suits (OR=0.053), education (OR=0.072), gloves (OR=0.102), hands sterilized by iodine (OR=0.231), room air ventilation (OR=0.32), were significantly protective; conversely, tracheal intubation (OR=30.793) was a significant risk factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Strict defense and antisepsis measures were pivotal in preventing SARS infection among high-risk medical personnel. Education about associated knowledge and effective air ventilation were also important factors.
Pei
Li-ying
LY
Department of Emergency, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
Gao
Zhan-cheng
ZC
Yang
Zhen
Z
Wei
Dong-guang
DG
Wang
Shi-xin
SX
Ji
Jian-min
JM
Jiang
Bao-guo
BG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012307:Risk Factors; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires