Volume 10, Number 5—May 2004
Research
SARS in Hospital Emergency Room
Table 2
Results of environmental surveillance for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus RNA determined by real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction
Source of samples | No. of samples collected | No. (%) of positive samples | Source of positive result (copies of viral RNA per sample) |
---|---|---|---|
Surface of environment |
|||
Triage |
11 |
1 (9.1) |
Button of drinking water fountains (257–2,570) |
Examination area |
10 |
0 |
|
Observation unit |
42 |
2 (4.8) |
Button of drinking water fountains (257–2,570)
Bedside chair (2,570–25,700) |
Critical care area |
3 |
0 |
|
SARS area |
10 |
4 (40.0) |
Outlet of central air supply (257–2,570)
Table top (257–2,570)
Bedding (257–2,570)
Bed edge (257–2,570) |
Clean area |
14 |
2 (14.3) |
Book shelf (257–2,570)
Bedding (257–2,570) |
High-efficiency particulate air filter |
10 |
0 |
|
Air |
|||
High-volume sampler |
9 |
0 |
|
Low-volume samples |
10 |
0 |
|
Total | 119 | 9 (7.6) |
1The SARS Research Group of National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital includes the following: Ding-Shinn Chen, Yuan-Teh Lee, Che-Ming Teng, Pan-Chyr Yang, Hong-Nerng Ho, Pei-Jer Chen, Ming-Fu Chang, Jin-Town Wang, Shan-Chwen Chang, Chuan-Liang Kao, Wei-Kung Wang, Cheng-Hsiang Hsiao, and Po-Ren Hsueh.