Hospital Preparedness and SARS

Hospital Preparedness and SARS

Mona R Loutfy, Tamara Wallington, Tim Rutledge, Barbara Mederski, Keith Rose, Sue Kwolek, Donna McRitchie, Azra Ali, Bryan Wolff, Diane White, Edward Glassman, Marianna Ofner, Don E. Low, Lisa Berger, Allison McGeer, Tom Wong, David Baron, Glenn Berall

On May 23, 2003, Toronto experienced the second phase of a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. Ninety cases were confirmed, and >620 potential cases were managed. More than 9,000 persons had contact with confirmed or potential case-patients; many required quarantine. The main hospital involved during the second outbreak was North York General Hospital. We review this hospital’s response to, and management of, this outbreak, including such factors as building preparation and engineering, personnel, departmental workload, policies and documentation, infection control, personal protective equipment, training and education, public health, management and administration, follow-up of SARS patients, and psychological and psychosocial management and research. We also make recommendations for other institutions to prepare for future outbreaks, regardless of their origin.

2004

severe acute respiratory syndrome, Outbreak, hospital, Management, Canada

DOI: 10.3201/eid1005.030717

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Infectious and parasitic diseases, Medicine

EN