Volume 10, Number 2—February 2004
THEME ISSUE
2004 SARS Edition
SARS Transmission
SARS among Critical Care Nurses, Toronto
Mark B. Loeb*
, 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*
, 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*
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
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