The Challenge of Hospital Infection Control During a Response to Bioterrorist Attacks

Ethics, Pandemics, and the Duty to Treat

“…For example, in Vietnam, more than half of the first 60 patients with SARS were healthcare workers (Reilly et al 2003). In Canada, 77% of probable SARS cases resulted from in-hospital exposure, and in Taiwan, almost 94% of SARS cases were transmitted within hospitals (Grow and Rubinson 2003). a limited number of healthcare workers are available within the quarantined area).…”

Disease Mitigation Measures in the Control of Pandemic Influenza

“…10 Patients would be advised to wear surgical masks to diminish the number of infectious respiratory particles being dispersed into the air, thereby diminishing the likelihood of further spread. 55 In Asia during the SARS period, many people in the affected communities wore surgical masks when in public. But studies have shown that the ordinary surgical mask does little to prevent inhalation of small droplets bearing influenza virus.…”

“…N95 masks need to be fit-tested to be efficacious and are uncomfortable to wear for more than an hour or two. 55,57 More important, the supplies of such masks are too limited to even ensure that hospitals will have necessary reserves. 58…”

Bioterrorism and Infectious Agents: A New Dilemma for the 21st Century

“…However, the current consensus of scientific opinion is that transmission of infection from a pneumonic plague patient is via respiratory droplets (droplets larger than 5 m in diameter) rather than true airborne transmission (droplet nuclei of suspended evaporated droplets, or dust particles, less than 5 m in diameter). In addition to Respiratory Droplet Precautions, Standard Precautions, including eye protection, use of gloves, mask, and gowns should be followed at all times when working within 2 meters of the contagious patient (Grow and Rubinson, 2003). Respiratory droplets are typically transmitted across short distances only (Ͻ2 meters) from the source patient.…”