Low prevalence of subclinical severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus infection among hospital healthcare workers in Hong Kong

Scand J Infect Dis. 2005;37(6-7):500-3. doi: 10.1080/00365540510033645.

Abstract

We recruited 688 hospital healthcare workers who cared for patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and did not develop the disease in the Hong Kong outbreak in 2003. A questionnaire survey was conducted and serum samples were collected for SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) antibody. The high-risk procedures performed and the types of unprotected exposures were recorded for analysis. Only 1 asymptomatic nurse had positive serological test. The result demonstrates the low rate of subclinical SARS-CoV infection in hospital healthcare workers and that the infection control practice against SARS in Hong Kong's hospitals during the outbreak was highly effective.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Health Personnel*
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / transmission*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral