Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Education Alert
For the Latest information on SARS visit the CDC website:
The Virus
SARS stands for "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome", a collection of symptoms resulting from exposure to a coronavirus that causes the atypical pneumonia widely identified as "SARS". Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause respiratory ailments in humans. Coronaviruses have a halo or crown (corona) appearance when viewed in a microscope (hence the name). The virus is spread by droplet transmission (like TB) and may be transmitted by contact with a contaminated object. Go to the CDC website for the latest.
The Risk Factors
Those at greatest risk are recent travelers to Asia and Europe. Most of the cases have originated in China. People in close contact (including health care workers) with infected patients are also at risk of infection. The syndrome has been reported in the continents of Asia, North America and Europe. You really need to have a look at the CDC site for the latest information!
Signs and Symptoms
Recent foreign travel or exposure to SARS patient. (Incubation period is 2-7 days, but may be as long as 10 days).
- Fever greater than 100.4 F.
- Headache, general feeling of discomfort, body aches.
- Respiratory symptoms are mild at the outset, but progress after 2 to 7 days to a dry, non-productive cough which may be serious enough to cause hypoxia.
- 10% to 20% require mechanical ventilation.
Prevention / Procedure
As previously noted, use universal precautions and the same PPE (personal protective equipment) you would use for respiratory pathogens such as TB:
- Use gloves, eye protection, N95 (TB type) respirator mask.
- Place a surgical mask (not a TB mask) on the patient to help control droplets expelled by the patient.
- WASH YOUR HANDS!
- Limit exposure by reducing the number of personnel and bystanders in the same room or in the ambulance.
- Provide ALL indicated basic and advanced life support. Your knowledge and PPE will protect you.
- Alert the receiving facility: advise them you are "using respiratory isolation precautions" as part of the radio report.
- Disinfect the unit and equipment after transporting a suspected SARS patient.
Updated guidance documents for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Several guidance documents for containment of SARS have been updated and posted on the CDC website. Significant changes are: 1) revision of our "72 hour observation rule" for exposed individuals who have symptoms but do not meet the case definition, and 2) recommendation to exclude from duty healthcare workers who have unprotected high risk exposures to patients with SARS.
Interim Domestic Guidance for Management of Exposures to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) for Health-Care and Other Institutional Settings: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/exposureguidance.htm
Interim Domestic Guidance on Persons Who May Have Been Exposed to Patients with Suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/exposuremanagement.htm
Interim Domestic Guidance for Health Departments in the Management of School Students Exposed to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/exposurestudents.htm
Additional updates to the SARS information on the website include:
Basic Information about SARS now available in Simplified Chinese: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/chinese-simp.htm
Travel alert to Singapore (replacing the previous travel advisory): www.cdc.gov/travel/other/sarssingapore.htm
Please periodically check the CDC website for the most current information: www.cdc.gov.