Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2004 Dec;25(12):1020-5.
doi: 10.1086/502338.

Foundations of the severe acute respiratory syndrome preparedness and response plan for healthcare facilities

Arjun Srinivasan  1 , Lawrence C McDonald, Daniel Jernigan, Rita Helfand, Kathleen Ginsheimer, John Jernigan, Linda Chiarello, Raymond Chinn, Umesh Parashar, Larry Anderson, Denise Cardo; SARS Healthcare Preparedness and Response Plan Team
Affiliations
Review

Foundations of the severe acute respiratory syndrome preparedness and response plan for healthcare facilities

Arjun Srinivasan et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2004 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To help facilities prepare for potential future cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Design and participants: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), assisted by members of professional societies representing public health, healthcare workers, and healthcare administrators, developed guidance to help facilities both prepare for and respond to cases of SARS.

Interventions: The recommendations in the CDC document were based on some of the important lessons learned in healthcare settings around the world during the SARS outbreak of 2003, including that (1) a SARS outbreak requires a coordinated and dynamic response by multiple groups; (2) unrecognized cases of SARS-associated coronavirus are a significant source of transmission; (3) restricting access to the healthcare facility can minimize transmission; (4) airborne infection isolation is recommended, but facilities and equipment may not be available; and (5) staffing needs and support will pose a significant challenge.

Conclusions: Healthcare facilities were at the center of the SARS outbreak of 2003 and played a key role in controlling the epidemic. Recommendations in the CDC's SARS preparedness and response guidance for healthcare facilities will help facilities prepare for possible future outbreaks of SARS.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in