summercomfort | CDC on SARS

From CDC: Spread

Questions and Answers: The Spread of SARS
May 13, 2003, 11:00 AM ET

How is SARS spread?
The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person-to-person contact. Potential ways in which SARS can be spread include touching the skin of other people or objects that are contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching your eye(s), nose, or mouth. This can happen when someone who is sick with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets onto themselves, other people, or nearby surfaces. It also is possible that SARS can be spread more broadly through the air or by other ways that are currently not known.

What does "close contact" mean?
The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person-to-person contact. Close contact might occur when between people live together in the same household or if someone is providing care to a SARS patient. Examples include kissing or embracing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, close conversation (within 3 feet), physical examination, and any other direct physical contact between people. Close contact does not include activities such as walking by a person or sitting across a waiting room or office for a brief period of time.

How can I protect myself against SARS?
There are some common-sense measures that you can take to prevent the spread of SARS that apply to many infectious diseases. The most important is frequent hand washing with soap and water or use of alcohol-based hand rubs (See Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings). In addition, you should avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands and encourage people around you to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

How long is a person with SARS infectious to others?
Information to date suggests that people are most likely to be infectious when they have symptoms, such as fever or cough. However, it is not known how long before or after their symptoms begin that patients with SARS might be able to transmit the disease to others.

Should I wear a surgical mask to protect myself from getting SARS?
CDC does not recommend routine use of surgical masks when people are in public to prevent SARS.

Are there any times when a surgical mask should be worn to prevent the spread of SARS?
People who have -- or think they might have -- SARS should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If possible, they also should wear a surgical mask during close contact with people who are not infected (for example, household members) to prevent the spread of infectious droplets. When a person with SARS is unable to wear a surgical mask, household members should wear surgical masks when in close contact with the patient.

Surgical masks should fit snugly around the mouth and nose. Masks are intended for use by one person only and should not be shared. Masks should be discarded when soiled or moist; changing masks daily is a good rule of thumb. Hand hygiene should be performed after handling a soiled mask. For additional information, see infection-control precautions for SARS patients and their close contacts in households.

From CDC: Diagnosis

Diagnosis/Evaluation
May 20, 2003

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From CDC: <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/qa/spread.htm">Spread</a>

Questions and Answers: The Spread of SARS
May 13, 2003, 11:00 AM ET

How is SARS spread?
The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person-to-person contact. Potential ways in which SARS can be spread include touching the skin of other people or objects that are contaminated with infectious droplets and then touching your eye(s), nose, or mouth. This can happen when someone who is sick with SARS coughs or sneezes droplets onto themselves, other people, or nearby surfaces. It also is possible that SARS can be spread more broadly through the air or by other ways that are currently not known.

What does "close contact" mean?
The primary way that SARS appears to spread is by close person-to-person contact. Close contact might occur when between people live together in the same household or if someone is providing care to a SARS patient. Examples include kissing or embracing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, close conversation (within 3 feet), physical examination, and any other direct physical contact between people. Close contact does not include activities such as walking by a person or sitting across a waiting room or office for a brief period of time.

How can I protect myself against SARS?
There are some common-sense measures that you can take to prevent the spread of SARS that apply to many infectious diseases. The most important is frequent hand washing with soap and water or use of alcohol-based hand rubs (See Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings). In addition, you should avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands and encourage people around you to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

How long is a person with SARS infectious to others?
Information to date suggests that people are most likely to be infectious when they have symptoms, such as fever or cough. However, it is not known how long before or after their symptoms begin that patients with SARS might be able to transmit the disease to others.

Should I wear a surgical mask to protect myself from getting SARS?
CDC does not recommend routine use of surgical masks when people are in public to prevent SARS.

Are there any times when a surgical mask should be worn to prevent the spread of SARS?
People who have -- or think they might have -- SARS should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If possible, they also should wear a surgical mask during close contact with people who are not infected (for example, household members) to prevent the spread of infectious droplets. When a person with SARS is unable to wear a surgical mask, household members should wear surgical masks when in close contact with the patient.

Surgical masks should fit snugly around the mouth and nose. Masks are intended for use by one person only and should not be shared. Masks should be discarded when soiled or moist; changing masks daily is a good rule of thumb. Hand hygiene should be performed after handling a soiled mask. For additional information, see infection-control precautions for SARS patients and their close contacts in households.

<hr>

From CDC: <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/diagnosis.htm">Diagnosis</a>

Diagnosis/Evaluation
May 20, 2003

<a href="http://www.droid.cuhk.edu.hk/web/atypical_pneumonia/atypical_pneumonia.htm>X-Rays of Recent Cases of Atypical Pneumonia</a>

Initial diagnostic testing for suspected SARS patients should include chest radiograph, pulse oximetry, blood cultures, sputum Gram's stain and culture, and testing for viral respiratory pathogens, notably influenza A and B and respiratory syncytial virus. A specimen for Legionella and pneumococcal urinary antigen testing should also be considered. Clinicians should save any available clinical specimens (respiratory, blood, and serum) for additional testing until a specific diagnosis is made. Acute and convalescent (greater than 21 days after onset of symptoms) serum samples should be collected from each patient who meets the SARS case definition. Paired sera and other clinical specimens can be forwarded through State and local health departments for testing at CDC. Specific instructions for collecting specimens from suspected SARS patients are available.

Clinicians evaluating suspected cases should use standard precautions (e.g., hand hygiene) together with airborne (e.g., N-95 respirator) and contact (e.g., gowns and gloves) precautions (see the Updated Interim Domestic Infection Control Guidance in the Health-Care and Community Setting for Patients with Suspected SARS). Until the mode of transmission has been defined more precisely, eye protection also should be worn for all patient contact. As more clinical and epidemiologic information becomes available, interim recommendations will be updated.

<a href=" http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/casedefinition.htm"="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/casedefinition.htm"">Case Definition</a>

Clinical
Criteria
<ul>

<li>Asymptomatic
or mild respiratory illness</li>
<li> Moderate
respiratory illness 
<ul>
<li> Temperature
of >100.4º F (>38º C)*, and</li>

<li> One
or more clinical findings of respiratory illness (e.g., cough, shortness
of breath, difficulty breathing, or hypoxia).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li> Severe
respiratory illness 
<ul>
<li> Temperature
of >100.4º F (>38º C)*, and</li>

<li> One
or more clinical findings of respiratory illness (e.g., cough, shortness
of breath, difficulty breathing, or hypoxia), and 
<ul>
<li>
radiographic evidence of pneumonia, or </li>
<li>respiratory
distress syndrome, or</li>
<li>
autopsy findings consistent with pneumonia or respiratory distress
syndrome without an identifiable cause.</li>
</ul>

</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/exposuremanagementframe.htm">Exposure Management (much harsher wording)</a>