Summary
Supplement C: Preparedness and Response In Healthcare Facilities
Public Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness and Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Version 2/3
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Goals
- Rapidly identify and isolate all potential SARS patients.
- Implement infection control practices and contact tracing to interrupt SARS-CoV transmission.
- Ensure rapid communication within healthcare facilities and between healthcare facilities and health departments.
Key concepts
- Rapid decision making and implementation of control strategies are essential to limiting the spread of SARS-CoV.
- Significant transmission of SARS-CoV occurs in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
- Healthcare workers, patients, and visitors can propagate and disseminate infection within and outside healthcare facilities.
- SARS-CoV transmission occurs primarily during u nprotected exposures to unrecognized cases in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
- SARS-CoV transmission occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets and close-contact exposures (probably including fomites).
- SARS-CoV transmission may also occur through small-particle aerosols, especially during aerosol-generating procedures.
- Strict adherence to appropriate infection control practices, including use of personal protective equipment, is very effective in preventing transmission.
Priority activities
- Organize a planning committee to develop an institutional preparedness and response plan and a clear decision-making structure.
- Develop surveillance, screening, and evaluation strategies for various levels of SARS-CoV transmission.
- Develop plans to rapidly implement effective infection control measures and contact-tracing procedures.
- Determine the current availability of infrastructure and resources to care for SARS patients and strategies for meeting increasing demands.
- Develop strategies to meet staffing needs for SARS patient care and management.
- Develop strategies to communicate with staff, patients, the health department, and the public.
- Develop strategies to educate staff and patients about SARS and SARS control measures.
Related Pages
- Summary
- I. Rationale and Goals
- II. Lessons Learned
- III. Preparedness Planning for Healthcare Facilities
- IV. Recommended Preparedness and Response Activities in Healthcare Facilities
- V. Community Healthcare Delivery Issues
- References
- Appendix C1: Matrices for SARS Response in Healthcare Facilities
- Appendix C2: Checklist for SARS Preparedness in Healthcare Facilities
- Page last reviewed: May 3, 2005
- Page last updated: May 3, 2005
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