Hospitalized patients with bacterial infections: a potential focus of SARS transmission during an outbreak

• Published in: Epidemiology & Infection Vol. 132; no. 3; pp. 407 - 408
• Main Authors: WILDER-SMITH, A., GREEN, J. A., PATON, N. I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.06.2004
• Subjects: Bacterial infections; Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Coronavirus; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Errors; Disease outbreaks; Disease transmission; Female; Fever; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hospital admissions; Hospital units; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Inpatients; Male; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Personnel, Hospital; SARS; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - diagnosis; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - transmission; Short Report; Singapore; Singapore; Infection; Human; Lung disease; Microbiology; Respiratory disease; Viral disease; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Transmission; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268803001869

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has emerged as a new respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality [1, 2]. Dynamic mathematical models have suggested that SARS, if uncontrolled, would infect the majority of people wherever it was introduced [3–5]. The patterns of spread suggest droplet or contact transmission [6]. Close proximity of persons enhances the risk of transmission, and this together with handling of human secretions (respiratory secretions, faeces, etc.) have made the hospital setting particularly vulnerable to the rapid spread of SARS.