Possible SARS Coronavirus Transmission during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Emerg Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Christian, Michael D. ; Loutfy, Mona ; McDonald, L. Clifford ; Martinez, Kenneth F. ; Ofner, Mariana ; Wong, Tom ; Wallington, Tamara ; Gold, Wayne L. ; Mederski, Barbara ; Green, Karen ; Low, Donald E.
• Corporate Authors:
  on behalf of the SARS Investigation Team
• Description:
  Infection of healthcare workers with the severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is thought to occur primarily by either contact or large respiratory droplet transmission. However, infrequent healthcare worker infections occurred despite the use of contact and droplet precautions, particularly during certain aerosol-generating medical procedures. We investigated a possible cluster of SARS-CoV infections in healthcare workers who used contact and droplet precautions during attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a SARS patient. Unlike previously reported instances of transmission during aerosol-generating procedures, the index case-patient was unresponsive, and the intubation procedure was performed quickly and without difficulty. However, before intubation, the patient was ventilated with a bag-valve-mask that may have contributed to aerosolization of SARS-CoV. On the basis of the results of this investigation and previous reports of SARS transmission during aerosol-generating procedures, a systematic approach to the problem is outlined, including the use of the following: 1) administrative controls, 2) environmental engineering controls, 3) personal protective equipment, and 4) quality control.
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Aged Air Microbiology Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Female Humans Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-To-Professional Ontario Personnel, Hospital Protective Devices Quality Control Research Sars Virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

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• Source:
  Emerg Infect Dis. 10(2):287-293.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  10
• Issue:
  2
• Collection(s):
  Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:49d7f40bfcbf6dec6ccfed2192bf0eb624e5e13d55a7f58f44a1a5c73122500d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/7735/cdc_7735_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 6.86 MB ]