You have free access to this content

Risk factors for SARS infection among hospital healthcare workers in Beijing: a case control study

  1. Wei Liu1,
  2. Fang Tang1,
  3. Li-Qun Fang1,
  4. Sake J. De Vlas2,
  5. Huai-Jian Ma3,
  6. Jie-Ping Zhou4,
  7. Caspar W. N. Looman2,
  8. Jan Hendrik Richardus2,
  9. Wu-Chun Cao1

Article first published online: 5 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02255.x

Issue

Tropical Medicine & International Health

Tropical Medicine & International Health

Special Issue: SARS in China

Volume 14, Issue Supplement s1, pages 52–59, November 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Liu, W., Tang, F., Fang, L.-Q., De Vlas, S. J., Ma, H.-J., Zhou, J.-P., Looman, C. W. N., Richardus, J. H. and Cao, W.-C. (2009), Risk factors for SARS infection among hospital healthcare workers in Beijing: a case control study. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 14: 52–59. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02255.x

Author Information

  1. 1

     Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, P.R. China

  2. 2

     Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands

  3. 3

     Department of Infectious Disease, Anhui Provincial Corps Hospital, Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces, Anhui, P.R. China

  4. 4

     Institute of Remote Sensing Application, China Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China

*Corresponding Author Wu-Chun Cao, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, 20 Dong-Da Street, Feng Tai District, 100071 Beijing, P.R. China. E-mail: caowc@nic.bmi.ac.cn

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 OCT 2009
  2. Article first published online: 5 JUN 2009

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (81K)

Keywords:

  • SARS;
  • healthcare worker;
  • case control study

Summary

Objective  To evaluate possible severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection associated risk factors in a SARS affected hospital in Beijing by means of a case control study.

Methods  Fifty-one infected and 426 uninfected staff members were asked about risk behaviours and protective measures when attending to SARS patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the major risk and protective factors.

Results  Multivariate analysis confirmed the strong role of performing chest compression (or intubation, which is highly correlated), contact with respiratory secretion, and emergency care experience as risk factors to acquire SARS infection. For the studied protective measures, wearing 16-layer cotton surgical mask, wearing 12-layer cotton surgical mask, wearing multiple layers of mask, taking prophylactic medicine, taking training and nose washing turned out to be protective against infection.

Conclusions  This study highlighted activities associated with increased and decreased risk for SARS infection during close contact with SARS patients. These findings may help to guide recommendations for the protection of high-risk occupational groups.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (81K)