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Volume 9, Number 10—October 2003
Research

Illness in Intensive Care Staff after Brief Exposure to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Damon C. Scales*, Karen Green*, Adrienne K. Chan*, Susan M. Poutanen*, Donna Foster*, Kylie Nowak*, Janet M. Raboud†, Refik Saskin*, Stephen E. Lapinsky*, and Thomas E. Stewart*†Comments to Author 
Author affiliations: *Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; †University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Main Article

Table 1

Description of healthcare workers in whom severe acute respiratory syndrome developeda

Patients Occupation Duration of exposure to index patient Precautions Special considerations
Patient 1
 Registered nurse
 22 h
 Gown, gloves, surgical maskb
 • Present during intubation of airway
• Performed all primary nursing activities on 2 shifts
Patient 2
 ICU nurse
 31–60 min
 N-95 mask, gown, gloves
 • Performed difficult intubation of airway
Patient 3
 Registered nurse
 None
 Not applicable
 • Assigned to patient 3 rooms down hall from index patient
Patient 4
 Registered nurse
 31–60 min
 Gown, gloves, surgical mask
 • Assisted primary nurse with bathing of index patient
Patient 5
 Anesthetist
 10–30 min
 Gown, gloves, surgical mask
 • Performed difficult intubation of airway
Patient 6
 Respiratory therapist
 4 h
 none
 • Instituted NPPV
• Inserted arterial line
Patient 7c Respiratory therapist 6 h Gown, glovesb • Instituted NPPV
• Frequently manipulated oxygen mask

aICU, intensive-care unit; NPPV, noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation.
bDenotes precautions that were taken by the healthcare worker sometimes but not always during exposure.
cPatient 7 has been classified as a suspected case, as she did not have radiographic lung infiltrates.

Main Article

Page created: January 12, 2011
Page updated: January 12, 2011
Page reviewed: January 12, 2011
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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