Infection control for SARS in a tertiary neonatal centre

Abstract

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a newly discovered infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus, which can readily spread in the healthcare setting. A recent community outbreak in Hong Kong infected a significant number of pregnant women who subsequently required emergency caesarean section for deteriorating maternal condition and respiratory failure. As no neonatal clinician has any experience in looking after these high risk infants, stringent infection control measures for prevention of cross infection between patients and staff are important to safeguard the wellbeing of the work force and to avoid nosocomial spread of SARS within the neonatal unit. This article describes the infection control and patient triage policy of the neonatal unit at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong. We hope this information is useful in helping other units to formulate their own infection control plans according to their own unit configuration and clinical needs.

Figure 1

The floor plan of the neonatal unit at the Prince of Wales Hospital. (A) The SARS areas (ward 6A). (B) The "clean" neonatal intensive care areas (ward 6B). (1) The "clean" special care areas (ward 7B). NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; SCBU, special care baby unit.

Figure 2

A resuscitation bag fitted with a viral filter.

Figure 3

A conventional neonatal ventilator fitted with viral filters at the exhalation limb and connected to the wall suction outlet.