Atypical SARS and Escherichia coli Bacteremia

Atypical SARS and Escherichia coli Bacteremia

Thuan Tong Tan, Ban Hock Tan, Asok Kurup, Lynette Lin-Ean Oon, Derrick Heng, Su Yun Se Thoe, Xin Lai Bai, Kwai-Peng Chan, Ai Ee Ling

We describe a patient with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) whose clinical symptoms were masked by Escherichia coli bacteremia. SARS developed in a cluster of healthcare workers who had contact with this patient. SARS was diagnosed when a chest infiltrate developed and when the patient’s brother was hospitalized with acute respiratory failure. We highlight problems in atypical cases and offer infection control suggestions.

2004

atypical severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, dispatch, Singapore

DOI: 10.3201/eid1002.030501

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Infectious and parasitic diseases, Medicine

EN