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Volume 10, Number 2—February 2004
THEME ISSUE
2004 SARS Edition
SARS Transmission

SARS among Critical Care Nurses, Toronto

Mark B. Loeb*Comments to Author , Allison McGeer†, Bonnie Henry‡, Marianna Ofner§, David Rose¶, Tammy Hlywka*, Joanne Levie*, Jane McQueen*, Stephanie Smith*, Lorraine Moss*, Andrew Smith*, Karen Green†, and Stephen D. Walter*
Author affiliations: *McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; †Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ‡Toronto Public Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; §Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; ¶Scarborough Grace Hospital, Ontario, Canada

Main Article

Table 1

Relative risk of critical care nurses acquiring SARS by patient care activitya

Patient care activity SARS attack rate
(No. cases/No. exposed or unexposed) (%)
Relative risk (95% CI) p value
Exposed Unexposed
Intubation 3/4 (75) 5/28 (18) 4.20 (1.58 to 11.14) 0.04
Suctioning before intubation 3/4 (75) 5/28 (18) 4.20 (1.58 to 11.14) 0.04
Suctioning after intubation 4/19(21) 4/13(31) 0.68 (0.21 to 2.26) 0.04
Nebulizer treatment 3/5(20) 5/27 (8) 3.24 (1.11 to 9.42) 0.09
Manipulation of oxygen mask 7/14 (50) 1/18 (6) 9.00 (1.25 to 64.89) 0.01
Manual ventilation 2/7 (29) 6/25 (24) 1.19 (0.30 to 4.65) 1.00
Mouth or dental care 5/21 (24) 3/11(27) 0.87 (0.25 to 2.99) 1.00
Insertion of a nasogastric tube 2/6 (33) 6/26 (23) 1.44 (0.38 to 5.47) 0.62
Insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter 2/2 (100) 6/30(0.20) 5.00 (2.44 to 10.23) 0.06
Insertion of a peripheral intravenous catheter 3/5 (60) 5/27 (19) 3.24 (1.11 to 9.42) 0.09
Chest tube insertion or removal 0 (0) 0 (0)
Insertion of a central venous catheter 2/6 (33) 6/26 (23) 1.44 (0.38 to 5.47) 0.62
Bathing or patient transfer 7/26 (27) 1/6 (17) 1.62 (0.24 to 10.78) 1.00
Manipulation of BiPAP mask 3/6 (50) 5/26 (19) 2.60 (0.8 to 7.99) 0.15
Administration of medication 5/23 (22) 3/ 9 (33) 0.65 (0.20 to 2.18) 0.65
Performing an electrocardiogram 4/12 (33) 4/20 (20) 1.67 (0.51 to 5.46) 0.43
Venipuncture 6/17 (35) 2/ 15 (13) 2.65 (0.63 to 11.19) 0.23
Manipulation of commodes or bedpans 3/5 (60) 5/ 27 (19) 3.24 (1.11 to 9.42) 0.09
Feeding 2/10 (20) 6/22 (27) 0.73 (0.18 to 3.02) 1.00
Debrillation 0/2 (0) 8/ 30 (0.27) 1.00
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation 0/3 (0) 8/29 (28) 0.55
Chest physiotherapy 2/7 (29) 6/25 (0.24) 1.19 (0.30 to 4.65) 1.00
Assessment of patient 6/ 23 (26) 2/ 9 (22) 1.17 (0.29 to 4.77) 1.00
Insertion of peripheral intravenous line 1/1 (100) 7/31 (23) 4.43 (2.31 to 8.50) 0.25
Endotracheal aspirate 3/12 (25) 5/ 20 (25) 1.00 (0.29 to 3.45) 1.00
Bronchoscopy 1/2 (50) 7/ 30 (23) 2.14 (0.46 to 9.90) 0.44
Radiology procedures 4/15(26) 4/17 (24) 1.13 (0.34 to 3.76) 1.00
Dressing change 1/6 (17) 7/26 (27) 0.62 (0.09 to 4.13) 1.00
Urine specimen collected 1/2 (50) 7/30 (23) 2.14 (0.46 to 9.90) 0.44
Fecal specimen collected 0/1 (0) 8/31(26) 1.00
Rectal swab obtained 0/1 (0) 8/31 (26) 1.00
Nasopharyngeal swab obtained 0/2 (0) 8/30 (27) 1.00
Other 2/5 (40) 6/27 (22) 1.80 (0.50 to 6.50) 0.58

aSARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome; CI, confidence interval

Main Article

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