Health Care Worker Contact with MERS Patient, Saudi Arabia

Hall, Aron J.; Tokars, Jerome I.; Badreddine, Samar; Saad, Ziad Bin; Furukawa, Elaine; Masri, Malak al; Haynes, Lia M.; Gerber, Susan I.; Kuhar, David T.; Miao, Congrong; Trivedi, Suvang; Pallansch, Mark A.; Hajjeh, Rana; Memish, Ziad A.

doi:10.3201/eid2012.141211

Cited by 43 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…19 The seropositivity of HCWs after a contact with MERS-CoV patients is variable. 22 In Korea, 36 (19.9%) of 181 confirmed MERS-CoV cases were HCWs. In a previous study of 1,169 HCWs, 15 were positive by polymerase chain reaction and 5 of 737 HCWs were positive by serology testing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus transmission among health care workers: Implication for infection control

Alfaraj

Al‐Tawfiq

Altuwaijri

et al. 2018

American Journal of Infection Control

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The role of HCWs in MERS-CoV transmission is complex. Although most MERS-CoV-infected HCWs are asymptomatic or have mild disease, fatal infections can occur and HCWs can play a major role in propagating health care facility outbreaks. This investigation highlights the need to continuously review infection control guidance relating to the role of HCWs in MERS-CoV transmission in health care outbreaks, especially as it relates to the complex questions on definition of risky exposures, who to test, and the frequency of MERS-CoV testing; criteria for who to quarantine and for how long; and clearance and return to active duty criteria.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus transmission among health care workers: Implication for infection control

Alfaraj

Al‐Tawfiq

Altuwaijri

et al. 2018

American Journal of Infection Control

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“…Healthcare workers (HCWs) form a significant risk group for infection [3,4,5]. Most of the cases in health care workers occurred in the early period of the outbreak [6]. The risk of importation of other emerging infectious diseases, particularly with large population movements during the Hajj and Umrah is also significant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours of Healthcare Workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to MERS Coronavirus and Other Emerging Infectious Diseases

Alsahafi

Cheng

2016

IJERPH

151

137

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Background: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has experienced a prolonged outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus since 2012. Healthcare workers (HCWs) form a significant risk group for infection. Objectives: The aim of this survey was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, infection control practices and educational needs of HCWs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to MERS coronavirus and other emerging infectious diseases. Methods: 1500 of HCWs from Saudi Ministry of Health were invited to fill a questionnaire developed to cover the survey objectives from 9 September 2015 to 8 November 2015. The response rate was about 81%. Descriptive statistics was used to summarise the responses. Results: 1216 HCWs were included in this survey. A total of 56.5% were nurses and 22% were physicians. The most common sources of MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) information were the Ministry of Health (MOH) memo (74.3%). Only (47.6%) of the physicians, (30.4%) of the nurses and (29.9%) of the other HCWs were aware that asymptomatic MERS-CoV was described. Around half of respondents who having been investigated for MERS-CoV reported that their work performance decreased while they have suspicion of having MERS-CoV and almost two thirds reported having psychological problems during this period. Almost two thirds of the HCWs (61.2%) reported anxiety about contracting MERS-CoV from patients. Conclusions: The knowledge about emerging infectious diseases was poor and there is need for further education and training programs particularly in the use of personal protective equipment, isolation and infection control measures. The self-reported infection control practices were sub-optimal and seem to be overestimated.

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“…Initial data suggested that the transmission of MERS-CoV among family members was 11-19% based on screening of a small number of contacts of 28-42 family members [14][15][16]. Screening of 462 family members revealed a positivity rate of only 3% by PCR [57]. Further screening of household contacts utilizing both PCR and serology revealed a positivity of 12 out of 280 contacts, showing a positivity rate of only 4% [38].…”

Section: Transmission Of Mers-cov Among Family Contactsmentioning

confidence: 99%