Coronaviruses (e.g., SARS, MERS and COVID-19)
Topic Collection
March 12, 2024
Topic Collection: Coronaviruses (e.g., SARS, MERS and COVID-19)
Healthcare facilities and emergency medical professionals need to be able to recognize and treat diseases - such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - caused by novel respiratory pathogens. This Topic Collection contains resources that can help medical emergency planners and health care professionals: learn more about managing patients experiencing illness from novel respiratory pathogens; understand infection control principles in healthcare and community settings; and benefit from lessons learned from past outbreaks.
NOTE: Access the ASPR TRACIE Novel Coronavirus Resources page for recent resources, plans, tools, templates, and technical assistance responses.
Please refer to the National Institutes of Health Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Coronavirus Disease 2019 webpage for the most up-to-date guidance.
In addition to those listed in this Topic Collection, resources relevant to this outbreak may be found on our Infectious Diseases resource page and in the following Topic Collections:
Alternate Care Sites (including shelter medical care)
Continuity of Operations (COOP)/ Business Continuity Planning
Crisis Standards of Care
Ethics
Healthcare-Related Disaster Legal/ Regulatory/ Federal Policy
Hospital Surge Capacity and Immediate Bed Availability
Influenza Epidemic/ Pandemic
Mental/Behavioral Health (non-responders)
Responder Safety and Health
Virtual Medical Care
Each resource in this Topic Collection is placed into one or more of the following categories (click on the category name to be taken directly to that set of resources). Resources marked with an asterisk (*) appear in more than one category.
Must Reads
Speakers share lessons learned in infection prevention and control from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Ten years after the World Health Organization (WHO) issued their first global alert for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the authors reviewed the critical gaps that remain in the global surveillance and response capacity for similar public health threats. Of 194 WHO member states that signed on to the International Health Regulations (2005), fewer than 20% had achieved compliance with the core capacities required by the deadline in June 2012. The authors emphasize the lessons learned from the global SARS outbreak (e.g., avoid complacency, use all available 21st century tools to strengthen capacity building efforts, and support research).
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article includes guidelines for the care of patients with highly infectious diseases, with an emphasis on droplet precautions, isolation units, and need for healthcare worker training. The author advocates that protective measures for isolation units be modeled after those for biosafety level laboratories. Pediatric considerations are also included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This web page contains links to information on MERS for the public, healthcare providers and laboratory professionals including a frequently asked questions resource. Preparedness checklists for providers and healthcare facilities are included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This archived web page contains links to information on SARS for healthcare providers, laboratory professionals, public health agencies, patients, and the legal community. No cases of SARS have been reported since 2004. The author archived the page for historical purposes and is not maintaining or updating the content.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors review the 2003 SARS outbreak and discuss lessons learned, particularly with regard to treatment and containment activities. Summaries of studies conducted to identify risk factors and infection control measures, as well as to describe nosocomial outbreaks for affected countries, are included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors summarize the eight “national and international policy, operational, and systems needs identified by public health officials" and emphasize the value of having a national public health institute in the preparedness and response phases of a public health emergency.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This toolkit can help healthcare organizations plan and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors encourage hospitals to "review the materials and adapt them to their local context and health department regulations and procedures."
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors provide a review of the knowledge base pertaining to the current MERS-CoV outbreak, including detection, clinical features, and interventions.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors use data from prior infectious disease outbreaks, including SARS in 2003, to emphasize how important it is for emergency departments to have effective screening and isolation protocols in place for febrile respiratory illness. Such protocols are critical to avoid possible disease transmission by infected patients in the waiting room to others also waiting to be seen.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This document discusses gaps in preparedness for responding to emerging infectious diseases, and provides recommendations for health care facilities to prepare to identify and care for patients with MERS-CoV or other novel respiratory infections.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This document provides recommendations, best practices and principles for infection prevention and control for acute respiratory infections in health care, particularly those that present as epidemics or pandemics. It includes information on PPE and aerosol-generating procedures. There are also summaries of literature and research reviews on physical interventions for infection control; risk of transmission from aerosol-generating procedures; and effectiveness of vaccination of health care workers to protect patients.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Clinical Management and Research
The authors reviewed the therapeutic schedule and outcomes for five MERS patients who received ribavirin and interferon combination therapy an average of 19 days post-admission. None of the patients responded to therapy and all died, suggesting that this therapy is ineffective in patients with co-morbidities who start treatment late in the course of their illness.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health provided an analysis of 47 individuals with laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV disease. Data suggest that the clinical presentation of MERS-CoV infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia with the acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock and multi-organ failure resulting in death. At least two cases had a consumptive coagulopathy during the course of their illness.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Ten years after the World Health Organization (WHO) issued their first global alert for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the authors reviewed the critical gaps that remain in the global surveillance and response capacity for similar public health threats. Of 194 WHO member states that signed on to the International Health Regulations (2005), fewer than 20% had achieved compliance with the core capacities required by the deadline in June 2012. The authors emphasize the lessons learned from the global SARS outbreak (e.g., avoid complacency, use all available 21st century tools to strengthen capacity building efforts, and support research).
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article includes guidelines for the care of patients with highly infectious diseases, with an emphasis on droplet precautions, isolation units, and need for healthcare worker training. The author advocates that protective measures for isolation units be modeled after those for biosafety level laboratories. Pediatric considerations are also included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This document provides guidance to hospitals and other healthcare settings on personal protective equipment recommendations, source control, and environmental infection control measures when managing patients with MERS-CoV.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This web page contains links to information on MERS for the public, healthcare providers and laboratory professionals including a frequently asked questions resource. Preparedness checklists for providers and healthcare facilities are included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This archived web page contains links to information on SARS for healthcare providers, laboratory professionals, public health agencies, patients, and the legal community. No cases of SARS have been reported since 2004. The author archived the page for historical purposes and is not maintaining or updating the content.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors looked at factors contributing to SARS transmission in 98 index cases (22 with transmission; 76 without). They found several factors that seemed to contribute to transmission including delay to isolation; admission to a non-isolation facility; and higher lactate dehydrogenase levels of greater than 650 IU/L.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors review the 2003 SARS outbreak and discuss lessons learned, particularly with regard to treatment and containment activities. Summaries of studies conducted to identify risk factors and infection control measures, as well as to describe nosocomial outbreaks for affected countries, are included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors analyzed case-based data on laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV from 2012 to October 1, 2018. They estimated that 1,465 cases and between 293 and 520 deaths may have been averted since 2016 due to improved understanding of transmission, enhanced surveillance, and implementation of effective infection prevention and control measures in hospitals.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This document provides guidance on the identification and treatment of patients with severe acute respiratory infection in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors summarize the epidemiology of the ongoing MERS-CoV outbreak, noting its sporadic nature and unclear transmission routes. They call for additional research to answer unanswered questions about the disease so that effective interventions to control its spread may be implemented.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This Medline encyclopedia article on SARS includes information on symptoms, tests, treatments, and prevention methods.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors conducted this study to determine the effects of mechanical ventilation on pneumothorax and if pneumothorax in SARS patients increased mortality. They did not find any increase in mortality from pneumothorax. They found that patients who developed pneumothorax presented with significant respiratory involvement upon admission, and that these individuals required "meticulous" respiratory therapy and monitoring.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors report how the Identify-Isolate-Inform (3I) tool, originally conceived for healthcare providers to use with Ebola virus disease patients, can be adapted for real-time use for detection and management of patients under investigation for MERS.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors examined viral load in plasma over time in SARS patients and the effect of corticosteroids on viral load. They found that relatively early corticosteroid treatment was related to a higher subsequent plasma viral load.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors describe clinical and epidemiologic data for 199 patients hospitalized with SARS. Nineteen of 24 ICU deaths occurred a week or later after ICU admission (and were linked to other complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The authors hypothesize that differences in the virulence of varied strains and viral load may be related to the likelihood of developing a severe ARDS and suggest aggressive early intervention.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article describes an assay kit that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2013 for the detection of MERS-CoV. The authors discuss the accuracy of the assay, as well as selection of samples for testing, timing of collection after disease onset, and collection methods.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This Medline encyclopedia article on coronaviruses includes information on SARS and MERS, prevention and risk factors, statistics, journal articles, and patient handouts.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors provide a review of the knowledge base pertaining to the current MERS-CoV outbreak, including detection, clinical features, and interventions.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
These guidelines identify respiratory therapy modalities to be used based on indications and patient treatment needs.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This document provides guidance for emergency departments and outpatient clinics to develop screening and isolation protocols for patients possibly infected with a highly communicable disease of public health concern. The document focuses on initial patient identification, initial infection control measures, notification and patient evaluation, and identification and management of exposed persons.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This chapter of a larger guidance document provides information on laboratory testing related to SARS, including which tests will be performed, safety precautions when handling specimens, and how to collect, test, and ship specimens.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This webpage provides guidance to workers and employers to help prevent worker exposure to MERS-CoV.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors share a timeline of the SARS outbreak and include tables that highlight clinical components of the disease, laboratory abnormalities associated with the disease, radiographic results of patients with SARS, and other information that can help healthcare providers understand the 2003 outbreak and prepare for future outbreaks.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This collection of resources provides guidance on investigation of MERS-CoV, public health management of suspected cases, and advice to travelers. Resources relate to diagnostic testing, the minimum data set for possible cases, specimen handling and processing, support for clinical decision-making, epidemiological protocols, risk assessment, infection prevention, and travel advice.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors use data from prior infectious disease outbreaks, including SARS in 2003, to emphasize how important it is for emergency departments to have effective screening and isolation protocols in place for febrile respiratory illness. Such protocols are critical to avoid possible disease transmission by infected patients in the waiting room to others also waiting to be seen.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors discuss what is known about the current MERS-CoV outbreak. They emphasize the importance of rapid identification and isolation of cases in the absence of effective treatments and clear understanding of how the virus is primarily being transmitted (i.e., human-to-human, or animal-to-human spread).
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors of this letter describe a case of 2019-nCoV infection acquired in Germany in which transmission likely occurred during the incubation period in the index patient. A figure that illustrates the timeline of exposure to the index patient and subsequent infection in four patients is included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The author reviews the agents that could necessitate the need for mass critical care of patients with severe febrile respiratory illness, as well as associated infection control protocols and personal protective equipment requirements, including those for procedures that could result in a high rate of disease transmission. Planning considerations are included, as are general treatment principles and research supporting lung ventilation protocols.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors conducted experiments with different types of doors to assess which allowed the most air into and out of rooms to determine the type of door(s) that hospitals should use for isolation rooms. The effect of human movement on air flow when operating the doors was also examined. The authors contend that sliding doors are the most effective.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article describes the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 138 hospitalized patients with 2019 novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia in a single hospital. While the article is the largest case series to date, it was published before outcomes were known for most patients.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors review treatment options for coronavirus, with an emphasis on that for SARS, based on reports from the 2003 outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This web page contains links to information on MERS for healthcare providers and laboratory professionals. It also provides updates on the various outbreaks occurring around the world.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This interim guidance document provides principles of infection prevention and control strategies and precautions for healthcare workers managing patients with confirmed or probable MERS-CoV infection.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors describe a previously unknown coronavirus (later known as MERS-CoV) isolated from the sputum of a 60-year-old man who presented with acute pneumonia with a fatal outcome in Saudi Arabia, remarkably similar to that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors discuss novel and emerging viral agents that cause respiratory illness, and development and use of new antimicrobial agents and immune-based and host-directed therapies to treat them.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Education and Training
The authors trained 275 health care workers in two weeks on how to don personal protective equipment and perform resuscitation procedures for a patient in cardiac arrest using a high-fidelity simulator. Lessons learned from this initiative have implications for health care worker training, as well as care of patients with infectious respiratory diseases.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC) and ASPR’s Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (ASPR TRACIE) are partnering on a series of joint webinars featuring NETEC’s suite of free, fully customizable, Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)-compliant exercise materials, trainings, and other resources. This webinar highlights a new course, exercise templates, and other ASPR TRACIE and NETEC resources.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This series of videos provides an introduction to precautions and controls for the seven types of coronavirus, including COVID-19, MERS, and SARS. A brief introductory video is accompanied by three training modules focused on: Overview of Coronavirus, Precautions and Controls for Coronavirus, and Transport and Movement of Patients with Known or Suspected Exposure to Coronavirus.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This instructional series, comprised of nine modules (listed at the top of the page), includes an introduction to infectious diseases, basic infection control concepts, considerations for personal protective equipment (including donning and doffing), personnel decontamination, patient transport, and transfer of patient care for patients with Ebola and other highly infectious diseases.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This video demonstrates the process of collecting oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs for novel coronavirus testing.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This toolkit can help healthcare organizations plan and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes: patient screening algorithms, sample signage, assessment criteria, infection prevention guidance, a visitor screening tool, personal protective equipment doffing checklists, and specimen collection instructions.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This video demonstrates the personal protective equipment doffing process under Massachusetts General Hospital's strict isolation policy. It uses a combination of airborne isolation, contact isolation, and eye protection to protect healthcare workers caring for patients known or suspected to be infected with highly pathogenic organisms transmitted by the airborne route or direct or indirect contact with the patient, environmental surfaces, or contaminated equipment. Diseases covered under this policy include SARS, MERS, avian influenza, and 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This video demonstrates the personal protective equipment donning process under Massachusetts General Hospital's strict isolation policy. It uses a combination of airborne isolation, contact isolation, and eye protection to protect healthcare workers caring for patients known or suspected to be infected with highly pathogenic organisms transmitted by the airborne route or direct or indirect contact with the patient, environmental surfaces, or contaminated equipment. Diseases covered under this policy include SARS, MERS, avian influenza, and 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Pediatric emergency department staff completed a questionnaire to assess their perceptions of infection control measures against SARS. The authors found that perception of an agent as a significant public health threat improved compliance with infection control measures. Perception of effectiveness of infection control measures did not improve compliance.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Event-Specific Lessons Learned
The authors trained 275 health care workers in two weeks on how to don personal protective equipment and perform resuscitation procedures for a patient in cardiac arrest using a high-fidelity simulator. Lessons learned from this initiative have implications for health care worker training, as well as care of patients with infectious respiratory diseases.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Speakers from some of the hardest hit hospitals across the U.S. discuss their COVID-19 experiences in this webinar.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Hospitals across the country have been managing COVID-19 patient surge for several months. To facilitate the response, many have activated hospital incident command, adjusting as necessary to match patient census. ASPR TRACIE met with subject matter experts to learn more about their experience with hospital incident command and scalability.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This ASPR TRACIE tip sheet highlights several key observations about how healthcare incident command systems functioned during the COVID-19 pandemic and includes lessons learned collected from interviews, surveys, and literature reviews as of August 2021. While the intended audience of this document includes HCFs, EMs, executives, and leadership, additional stakeholders including regional HCFs, emergency response teams, HCC members, vendors, and staff involved in emergency response may also find this information useful.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Speakers share lessons learned in infection prevention and control from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This discussion paper reviews lessons learned from COVID-19 and suggests priorities for transforming the healthcare system, including addressing financial sustainability, supply chain resilience, workforce challenges, and coordination across sectors and systems.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors provide an analysis of SARS-related decision making along with recommendations for use of the "accountability for reasonableness" principles and ideas for future situations where information about the pathogen is rapidly evolving and decisions may be open to interpretation.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This executive summary of the 3rd part of the Government of Ontario’s report on SARS focuses on the workforce issues related to SARS, the psychological impact on the nursing staff in particular, and the issues with the lack of guidance on appropriate infection control. Unfortunate and difficult lessons that echo today with MERS and Ebola.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Despite apparent compliance with recommended infection-control precautions, a cluster of healthcare workers became ill with SARS during the 2003 outbreak. One table shows how these workers were exposed, by their occupation and type of exposure.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors describe the SARS outbreaks in the various wards of a hospital in Singapore, and discuss lessons learned from their experiences. Namely, that early detection and proper infection control procedures are critical to limiting or stopping transmission.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The article describes a retrospective study of health care workers infected with SARS during the 2003 outbreak in China that sought to identify measures that might have protected them from becoming ill. Measures found to be preventive included the use of double gloves; high-air flow ventilation on the wards; and avoidance of face-to-face contact with SARS patients.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors review the 2003 SARS outbreak and discuss lessons learned, particularly with regard to treatment and containment activities. Summaries of studies conducted to identify risk factors and infection control measures, as well as to describe nosocomial outbreaks for affected countries, are included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This playbook describes the Cleveland Clinic's rapid implementation of telemedicine in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes an ambulatory playbook to convert to telehealth, clinician training on virtual visits, patient facing materials, tips for showing empathy in virtual visits, and types of telehealth visits.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This report assesses FEMA's response activities related to COVID-19 between January and September 2020. The page includes a link to download the full report, frequently asked questions, and findings and recommendations related to coordinating structures and policy, resources, preparedness and information analysis, organizational resilience, and supporting state, local, tribal and territorial partners.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors present a framework of 10 imperatives to guide health and public health leaders during recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors review their experience during the 2003 SARS outbreak and present lessons learned to assist health care facilities plan for future infectious disease outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors report findings from a literature review on physical interventions to reduce or interrupt the spread of respiratory viruses, such as isolation, quarantine, social distancing, barriers, personal protection, and hygiene. They found that handwashing more than 10 times daily; wearing gowns, gloves, masks, and/or N-95 masks were effective. They also found that hygiene measures directed at children helped contain viral spread in the community.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors summarize the eight “national and international policy, operational, and systems needs identified by public health officials" and emphasize the value of having a national public health institute in the preparedness and response phases of a public health emergency.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Authors described possible cause of MERS-CoV transmission in South Korea resulting in 185 secondary infections as of July 14, 2015. These secondary infections were attributed to three overlapping generations of cases who have contracted the virus almost exclusively in the healthcare environment. Fomite transmission may explain a significant proportion of the infections occurring in the absence of direct contact with infected cases. The analysis of publicly available data collected from multiple sources, including the media, is useful for describing the epidemic history of an infectious disease outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors of this article sought to incorporate ethical considerations into equitable distribution of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for COVID-19. The centralized access platform assessed patient criteria compared with the mAbs emergency use authorization and created a scoring system to prioritize eligible patients in times of scarcity.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors investigated alternative measurement methodology for infrared body thermometry to increase accuracy for outdoor fever screening during the 2003 SARS epidemic. They found that temperature by ear was a more accurate measurement than forehead body surface temperature. This has implications for fever screening interventions for emerging infectious diseases.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors discuss the first 2 cases of MERS-CoV in France in 2013, and how they were handled to demonstrate the need for stringent infection control measures when caring for suspected or confirmed cases. They also note the atypical presentation of the index case, who did not originally present with respiratory symptoms.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This page includes links to several reports documenting lessons learned from COVID-19 that should inform priorities for health system transformation. Included are nine discussion papers and a special publication that collects the discussion papers in a single volume. Topics include: public health; care systems; health care payers; clinicians and professional societies; quality, safety, and standards organizations; biomedical research; patients, families, and communities; health product manufacturers and innovators; and digital health.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors review the experiences of Australia, Finland, Germany, Singapore, and South Korea in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and offer recommendations for future effective responses to emergencies in the United States. Recommendations address staffing, access to care, decision-making, data sharing, and communication.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors share a timeline of the SARS outbreak and include tables that highlight clinical components of the disease, laboratory abnormalities associated with the disease, radiographic results of patients with SARS, and other information that can help healthcare providers understand the 2003 outbreak and prepare for future outbreaks.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors use data from prior infectious disease outbreaks, including SARS in 2003, to emphasize how important it is for emergency departments to have effective screening and isolation protocols in place for febrile respiratory illness. Such protocols are critical to avoid possible disease transmission by infected patients in the waiting room to others also waiting to be seen.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors described a contact investigation to identify possible person-to-person transmission and assess infection control measures following an imported, confirmed case of MERS-CoV in Germany. They identified 83 identified contacts and followed up with 81. Ten contacts reported experiencing mild symptoms, but test results for respiratory and serum samples were negative for MERS-CoV. Serologic testing was done for 53 (75%) of 71 nonsymptomatic contacts; all results were negative.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors conducted a small cohort study to determine factors for nosocomial transmission of SARS among health care workers, and which job categories had the highest rates of infection. Nurses working on general wards and who cared for SARS patients had the highest attack rates. Non-clinical staff experienced a 19% attack rate. These findings have implications for hospital infection control plans.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article describes a study of attitudes towards use of the Internet to provide services during an outbreak of infectious disease. Patients at 3 Toronto hospitals were interviewed during the second SARS outbreak of 2003. The authors recommend that hospitals develop plans to use the Internet to maintain communication and continuity of care with patients during a large-scale infectious disease outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors of this letter describe a case of 2019-nCoV infection acquired in Germany in which transmission likely occurred during the incubation period in the index patient. A figure that illustrates the timeline of exposure to the index patient and subsequent infection in four patients is included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors examined the effects of restrictions on non-urgent use of hospital services during the SARS outbreak in Toronto and found substantial decreases in elective use and also some decreases in emergency use, suggesting that some patients may have forgone care for urgent conditions.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors formed a working group and developed a list of SARS-related ethical issues and values by a consensus process. They also developed a framework for looking at the ethical implications of the SARS outbreak, including 10 key ethical values, and five major ethical issues faced by medical decision makers.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors share an overview of patterns of transmission to help health officials prepare for future outbreaks.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Using lessons learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak, the author provides planning recommendations for future outbreaks, and notes that this planning is valuable for bioterrorism or pandemic influenza response, even if SARS does not reemerge.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article reviews lessons learned from the SARS outbreak in Singapore in 2003, and focuses on the containment and monitoring measures utilized. Large-scale home quarantine and telephone surveillance helped identify probable cases quickly, but required a significant effort to find a small number of cases comparatively. Daily temperature monitoring of health care workers led to early identification of SARS cases, but monitoring of children and travelers at the airports did not.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors share the lessons learned from the SARS outbreak, including how hospitals "amplified" the disease by performing specific procedures (e.g., endotracheal intubation and airway suctioning) that can aerosolize respiratory droplets. The authors then highlight successes (e.g., the use of "respiratory etiquette") that have come about as a result of implementing the lessons learned.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The article describes a cohort study conducted in 2003 to develop a predictive score for SARS infection in patients presenting to emergency departments at several hospitals in Taiwan with fever. The score is based on 10 evaluation items that include symptoms; travel history; contact history; blood count data; and chest X-ray findings. The authors contend that the scoring system was more sensitive and specific than the World Health Organization case definition criteria.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The author provides comment on the public health measures taken during the 2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors review treatment options for coronavirus, with an emphasis on that for SARS, based on reports from the 2003 outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article described the incident of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus infection in South Korea on May 2015. Patients included were a man who had recently visited the Middle East, his wife, and a male patient who shared a hospital room with the index patient. The authors emphasize that rapid laboratory confirmation can facilitate subsequent prevention and control for imported cases.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
General Information
American Public Health Association. (2023).
COVID-19.
(Added 4/24/2020.)
This page includes fact sheets and other communications materials, recordings from a webinar series, and other resources to help public health professionals respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Center for Health Security. (2020).
COVID-19 Analysis.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
This web page includes situation reports, fact sheets, analysis, connections to experts, and links to key resources related to COVID-19.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. (2023).
COVID-19.
(Added 4/24/2020.)
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) tracks news and scientific literature and provides analysis on COVID-19 related topics.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This discussion paper describes the application of crisis standards of care principles to clinical care challenges posed by a coronavirus or other epidemic or pandemic. The authors encourage healthcare facilities to develop a process for decision making based on the best available clinical information and built upon existing surge capacity plans.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2023).
COVID-19.
(Added 4/24/2020.)
This page features graphics and interactives with accompanying analysis related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visualizations include: interactive maps (urban and rural differences in hospital bed capacity, Medicaid emergency authorities by state, number of ICU beds by county, confirmed cases and deaths, cases and deaths by race and ethnicity, adults at higher risk of serious illness if infected), charts and infographics (long-term care workforce characteristics, potential inpatient COVID-19 treatment costs, nursing facility indicators, state policy actions, telehealth for older adults), and polling and survey data.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This PowerPoint presentation provides a primer on the novel coronavirus, including a timeline of activities and an overview of relevant legal emergency preparedness and response issues.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Guidance
This document outlines a list of steps physician practices should take before reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes a pre-visit screening script template, frequently asked questions about privacy and confidentiality, and links other resources related to relaxation of stay at home restrictions.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
American Society for Health Care Engineering. (2020).
COVID-19 Recovery.
American Hospital Association.
This page offers detailed information for healthcare facilities to consider as they recover from COVID-19 and begin restoring usual care. It identifies specific facility management issues; pre-recovery planning activities; immediate, short-term, and long-term needs; and the new normal. It is accompanied by an Excel-based recovery checklist.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC) and ASPR’s Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (ASPR TRACIE) are partnering on a series of joint webinars featuring NETEC’s suite of free, fully customizable, Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)-compliant exercise materials, trainings, and other resources. This webinar highlights a new course, exercise templates, and other ASPR TRACIE and NETEC resources.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This resource page includes guidance for individuals, healthcare providers, and others on COVID-19.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This memorandum provides information to healthcare facilities about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. It identifies preparedness training available from CMS, includes a link to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assist healthcare facilities in assessing their infection control policies and practices, and instructs facilities to review appropriate personal protective equipment use and availability.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This memorandum provides information about the availability of a diagnostic test for Covid-19 under an emergency use authorization (EUA). It provides guidance to surveyors to notify CMS of laboratories using an assay without an EUA or a modified EUA.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Health Care Worker Safety
The authors review the data behind current theories of respiratory virus transmission, and discuss critical aspects of respiratory illness prevention, taking into account influences such as the relative cost-effectiveness of different protection strategies.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article includes guidelines for the care of patients with highly infectious diseases, with an emphasis on droplet precautions, isolation units, and need for healthcare worker training. The author advocates that protective measures for isolation units be modeled after those for biosafety level laboratories. Pediatric considerations are also included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This webpage includes links to various fact sheets on identifying and managing effect of coronavirus and mental health.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Despite apparent compliance with recommended infection-control precautions, a cluster of healthcare workers became ill with SARS during the 2003 outbreak. One table shows how these workers were exposed, by their occupation and type of exposure.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This document provides infection control guidelines for healthcare settings across the continuum of care. It is intended to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of infection control and prevention programs in healthcare settings.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The article describes a retrospective study of health care workers infected with SARS during the 2003 outbreak in China that sought to identify measures that might have protected them from becoming ill. Measures found to be preventive included the use of double gloves; high-air flow ventilation on the wards; and avoidance of face-to-face contact with SARS patients.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors review the 2003 SARS outbreak and discuss lessons learned, particularly with regard to treatment and containment activities. Summaries of studies conducted to identify risk factors and infection control measures, as well as to describe nosocomial outbreaks for affected countries, are included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors summarize a debate among infectious disease practitioners in Singapore regarding whether surgical masks or N-95 respirators should be recommended for health care workers caring for patients with MERS-CoV. They conclude that the evidence supports MERS-CoV being transmitted through droplets, except for aerosol-generating procedures, and so surgical masks are sufficient. They contend that it is more protective for health care workers to consistently wear surgical masks, than inconsistently wear N-95s. N-95 masks have previously been found to be uncomfortable and cause headaches and impaired mental function in health care workers after prolonged use. (Note that the CDC recommends N95s be used for suspect MERS-CoV in the U.S.)
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article describes a series of three checklists developed to assess hospital capabilities in infection control and health care worker safety related to the treatment of patients with highly infectious diseases. Checklists focus on hospital resources, hospital procedures, and health care worker safety.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors summarize the available data on face mask use, noting how there is a lack of uniformity among the studies done to date, and a lack of data on the cost-effectiveness of face mask use. They discuss how the recommendations and language used varies across guidelines, and recommend areas for future research.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The article discusses a descriptive study wherein 5,065 individuals were screened for MERS-CoV, including suspected cases, health care worker contacts, and contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases. The authors cite the data collected as part of this study, as well as data from studies undertaken in several countries, as proof that current infection control recommendations work. They state that the risk of transmission to health care workers is low.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This report examines strategies for and pros and cons related to stockpiling and reusing elastomeric respirators during an influenza pandemic or other large aerosol-transmissible outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors studied the psychosocial effects associated with working in a hospital environment during the SARS outbreak. They found significant negative effects on employees' families and lifestyles as a result of this experience.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors looked at risk factors for nosocomial SARS infections in Vietnam in 2003. Consistent mask use by health care workers was found to reduce transmission of SARS among those exposed to patients with the disease.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article describes a study to determine factors affecting infections in health care workers from three hospitals. The authors found 19 protective factors (including double exposure suits, gloves, education, and room air ventilation) and three risk factors (including tracheal intubation).
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors conducted a small cohort study to determine factors for nosocomial transmission of SARS among health care workers, and which job categories had the highest rates of infection. Nurses working on general wards and who cared for SARS patients had the highest attack rates. Non-clinical staff experienced a 19% attack rate. These findings have implications for hospital infection control plans.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors performed a literature review to assess evidence for the risk to health care workers of contracting an infectious disease from aerosol-generating procedures. They found the data to be limited, and describe the findings of each of the 10 included studies in detail. They note that aerosol-generating procedures do seem to increase the risk of infection for health care workers, but that good infection control and proper training of workers can limit disease spread.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Nosocomial Transmission
This updated, illustrated guidance for healthcare settings provides background information on the COVID-19 pandemic; identifies life safety and other goals; and categorizes information by suggested engineering approaches, specific "how-to" and unique areas, surge areas, facilities/maintenance, and medical gas/vacuum systems.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health provided an analysis of 47 individuals with laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV disease. Data suggest that the clinical presentation of MERS-CoV infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia with the acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock and multi-organ failure resulting in death. At least two cases had a consumptive coagulopathy during the course of their illness.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors calculated the rate of MERS CoV introductions into the population from outbreaks in Jordan and Al Hasa. They modeled two potential scenarios: one where there are many introductions, but only moderate transmissibility, and another with few introductions but higher transmissibility. Their analysis suggested that, at the time of the study, MERS-CoV did not yet have pandemic potential.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
These authors analyzed epidemiological and genetic data to assess the extent of human infection, the performance of case detection, and the transmission potential of MERS-CoV with and without control measures.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Despite apparent compliance with recommended infection-control precautions, a cluster of healthcare workers became ill with SARS during the 2003 outbreak. One table shows how these workers were exposed, by their occupation and type of exposure.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors describe the SARS outbreaks in the various wards of a hospital in Singapore, and discuss lessons learned from their experiences. Namely, that early detection and proper infection control procedures are critical to limiting or stopping transmission.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors studied viral shedding of SARS coronavirus to improve diagnosis and infection control. They found that overall, peak viral loads were reached at 12-14 days of illness when patients were probably in hospital care, which would explain why hospital workers were prone to infection. Low rate of viral shedding in the first few days of illness meant that early isolation measures would probably be effective.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Full genome deep sequencing was done on nucleic acid extracted directly from PCR-confirmed clinical samples from patients with confirmed MERS-CoV demonstrated that transmission within Saudi Arabia is consistent with either movement of an animal reservoir, animal products, or movement of infected people.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors examined an outbreak of MERS in a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2014, and found this outbreak was part of a larger outbreak that affected multiple health care facilities in Riyadh and possibly arose from a single zoonotic transmission event.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors summarize the available knowledge base regarding how well coronaviruses persist in the environment, and discuss the effectiveness of commonly used antiseptics-disinfectants to kill them. New antiseptic strategies are also discussed.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This paper describes the epidemiological findings of retrospective investigation carried out in November 2012 for the earliest known healthcare associated outbreak of MERS-CoV that occurred in April 2012. A total of 2 laboratory-confirmed and 11 probable cases were identified from this outbreak: 10 were HCWs and 2 were family members of cases. These findings highlight the likelihood of nosocomial transmission of nCoV infection in a health-care setting.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors assessed the survival of SARS-CoV from stool and respiratory specimens on different environmental surfaces and found that fecal and respiratory samples can remain infectious at room temperature for long periods of time (four days and more than seven days, respectively). The effectiveness of cleaning agents was also evaluated and the authors found that common disinfectants inactivated the virus.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors looked at risk factors for nosocomial SARS infections in Vietnam in 2003. Consistent mask use by health care workers was found to reduce transmission of SARS among those exposed to patients with the disease.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors found that rapid institution of infection control measures can prevent acquisition of MERS-CoV in healthcare settings. They share a case study and highlight that strict respiratory isolation was instituted with a severely ill patient. Ten days after last exposure, none of 64 close contacts had developed severe disease (13 of 64 reported mild respiratory symptoms). The novel coronavirus was not detected in 10 of 10 symptomatic contacts tested.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study to identify risk factors for transmission of SARS-CoV during intubation from confirmed SARS patients to healthcare workers. They found that close contact with the airway of severely ill patients and failure of infection control practices to prevent exposure to respiratory secretions were associated with transmission of SARS-CoV.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors conducted experiments with different types of doors to assess which allowed the most air into and out of rooms to determine the type of door(s) that hospitals should use for isolation rooms. The effect of human movement on air flow when operating the doors was also examined. The authors contend that sliding doors are the most effective.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors share the lessons learned from the SARS outbreak, including how hospitals "amplified" the disease by performing specific procedures (e.g., endotracheal intubation and airway suctioning) that can aerosolize respiratory droplets. The authors then highlight successes (e.g., the use of "respiratory etiquette") that have come about as a result of implementing the lessons learned.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This document provides recommendations, best practices and principles for infection prevention and control for acute respiratory infections in health care, particularly those that present as epidemics or pandemics. It includes information on PPE and aerosol-generating procedures. There are also summaries of literature and research reviews on physical interventions for infection control; risk of transmission from aerosol-generating procedures; and effectiveness of vaccination of health care workers to protect patients.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Plans, Tools, and Templates
#Get Vaccinated. (2023).
Provider Resources.
(Added 12/28/2020.) American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living .
This toolkit contains various resources to support the #GetVaccinated campaign, including talking points, templates, and media materials.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The goal of the National Health Security Strategy (NHSS) is to strengthen and sustain communities’ abilities to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies. This webpage includes links to the full text of the strategy, an overview, the NHSS Implementation Plan, the NHSS Evaluation of Progress, and an NHSS Archive.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This eight-page template is for the use of hospital administration and planning personnel to identify and communicate key elements of the policy and procedures for screening, identification, and initial management of a suspected serious infectious disease patient. It is intended to be used as a tool to assist in the effective preparation for, implementation, and execution of facility serious infectious disease response plans.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This playbook (updated in 2023) synthesizes multiple sources of information in a single planning document addressing the full spectrum of infectious agents to create a concise reference resource for emergency medical services (EMS) agencies developing their service policies. The information can be incorporated into agency standard operating procedures and reviewed by the EMS medical director.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This resource page includes links to various materials to help communicate about COVID-19 vaccination.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Hospitals can use this Incident Planning Guide in conjunction with their Incident Command System and emergency management plans. It provides a scenario and planning factors to consider pertaining to infectious disease outbreaks. Note: Click on the Word or PDF version provided under the Infectious Disease category.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This is an Incident Response Guide for hospitals to use in conjunction with their Incident Command System and emergency management plans. It describes actions by response role for identifying, triaging, isolating, treating, and tracking a surge of potentially infectious patients and staff.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This toolkit includes resources describing the different types of testing, information on available tests and testing services, factors to consider when developing a testing strategy, and answers to frequently asked testing questions.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This web page contains links to information on MERS for the public, healthcare providers and laboratory professionals including a frequently asked questions resource. Preparedness checklists for providers and healthcare facilities are included.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This toolkit shares best practices for vaccine storage and handling. It includes an addendum focused on COVID-19 and Mpox vaccines.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors used cost data from hospitals in Singapore in a model to assess cost-effectiveness of infection control protocols in response to a respiratory virus epidemic. The model was based on transmission from a single case in the hospital setting, and did not assume widespread community transmission. The authors concluded that it was most cost-effective to use a step-up approach to infection control measures, as necessary, based on how an outbreak evolves vs. applying very stringent measures at the start of the outbreak and then scaling them back when it becomes apparent they are too broadly applied.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article describes a series of three checklists developed to assess hospital capabilities in infection control and health care worker safety related to the treatment of patients with highly infectious diseases. Checklists focus on hospital resources, hospital procedures, and health care worker safety.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This toolkit can help healthcare organizations plan and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors encourage hospitals to "review the materials and adapt them to their local context and health department regulations and procedures."
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This toolkit can help healthcare organizations plan and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes: patient screening algorithms, sample signage, assessment criteria, infection prevention guidance, a visitor screening tool, personal protective equipment doffing checklists, and specimen collection instructions.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This toolbox includes a variety of resources to assist frontline facilities in their readiness activities related to patients with high consequence infectious diseases. Included are planning and training tools, exercise templates, and the components (e.g., screening guide, checklists, posters) to create a readiness binder.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This toolkit includes various resources to assist health center staff in communicating with patients about vaccination. It includes key messages, answers to frequently asked questions, social media graphics, selfie signs, and links to additional resources.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This web page includes links to various Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program-compliant templates to assist healthcare coalitions, frontline facilities, assessment hospitals, state-designated Ebola treatment centers, regional Ebola and special pathogen treatment centers, and their respective response partners in the planning and conduct of exercises on the identification, assessment, treatment, management, transport, and transfer of high risk patients. The site includes templates for drills, tabletops, functional, and full-scale exercises. There is also a beginners guide to assist users new to exercise planning.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
These model procedural guidelines, created by NETEC's EMS/Patient Transport Work Group, are designed to help EMS agencies develop standard operating procedures for the transport and management of patients suspected or confirmed to have a high-consequence infectious disease. The guidelines address personal protective equipment (PPE) donning and doffing, EMS provider down, PPE breaches, biohazard spills, waste management, ambulance modification, and ambulance cleaning and disinfection. They complement ASPR TRACIE's EMS Infectious Disease Playbook (https://files.asprtracie.hhs.gov/documents/aspr-tracie-transport-playbook-508.pdf).
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This screening algorithm is intended to assist emergency department staff in screening potential MERS-CoV patients and implementing effective infection prevention and control measures.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This toolkit is intended for use by hospital emergency departments, and tests how long it takes for a potential patient with a highly infectious disease to be identified and for staff to begin exposure mitigation procedures; how long it takes for a patient to be transferred to an isolation room; and the capability of the facility to make notifications internally and to the health department. The Toolkit includes scenarios for Ebola Virus Disease, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, and Measles, but may be modified to suit healthcare facilities of any nature and any type of disease outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This planning guide from New York City Health + Hospitals provides high-level planning information for frontline hospital multidisciplinary teams to support planning and training for the initial care of suspected special pathogen patients while determining whether and when they will be transferred to another facility for further assessment and treatment.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors share a timeline of the SARS outbreak and include tables that highlight clinical components of the disease, laboratory abnormalities associated with the disease, radiographic results of patients with SARS, and other information that can help healthcare providers understand the 2003 outbreak and prepare for future outbreaks.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This collection of resources provides guidance on investigation of MERS-CoV, public health management of suspected cases, and advice to travelers. Resources relate to diagnostic testing, the minimum data set for possible cases, specimen handling and processing, support for clinical decision-making, epidemiological protocols, risk assessment, infection prevention, and travel advice.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article focuses on three key business aspects of treating patients with highly infectious diseases: communication; human resources and staffing; and HIPAA concerns.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors use data from prior infectious disease outbreaks, including SARS in 2003, to emphasize how important it is for emergency departments to have effective screening and isolation protocols in place for febrile respiratory illness. Such protocols are critical to avoid possible disease transmission by infected patients in the waiting room to others also waiting to be seen.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors discuss a survey of isolation units in Europe and advocate for the application of biosecurity measures to specialized isolation units in health care facilities to limit exposure of health care workers and deter theft of infectious material. Such measures include the use of key card access; surveillance cameras; guards at the doors; and sign-in/sign-out for all personnel entering the isolation area.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors conducted a survey of health care workers at 47 health care facilities in New York City and the surrounding area to determine responsiveness and willingness to work during disasters. They found that 64% of respondents felt they would be able to report to work during a SARS outbreak, while 48% indicated they would be willing to report to work during a SARS outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The author conducted a literature search to develop a checklist for infection preventionists to use to assess their hospital's emergency management plans. Infectious disease response considerations are addressed.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This article describes a study of attitudes towards use of the Internet to provide services during an outbreak of infectious disease. Patients at 3 Toronto hospitals were interviewed during the second SARS outbreak of 2003. The authors recommend that hospitals develop plans to use the Internet to maintain communication and continuity of care with patients during a large-scale infectious disease outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This plan contains the following sections: command; plans section (by unit); operations section; logistics; and finance. Four annexes that focus on different threats are included, as are sample forms and other appendices.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The author reviews the agents that could necessitate the need for mass critical care of patients with severe febrile respiratory illness, as well as associated infection control protocols and personal protective equipment requirements, including those for procedures that could result in a high rate of disease transmission. Planning considerations are included, as are general treatment principles and research supporting lung ventilation protocols.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors reviewed studies on facemask use in the community and framed their findings under the five principles of the Health Belief Model. They found that perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of face mask use positively influenced compliance and recommend that a comprehensive approach to encouraging mask use during outbreaks of infectious disease in the community be utilized.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors reviewed 16 studies from nine countries to synthesize the data on public perception of non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce transmission of respiratory infections. They found that hand and respiratory hygiene were viewed as socially responsible, and that concerns about stigma influence perceptions around social distancing and isolation. Barriers, including beliefs about infection transmission, are also discussed in this article.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This webpage contains links to four free toolkits that were developed to provide healthcare providers immediate access to key infectious disease outbreak information and resources. The toolkits contain guidance on incident management, emerging pathogens, IPC strategies, COVID-19, communication, negotiation, and implementation. Each toolkit contains checklists, guidance documents, case studies, and fillable tables to meet the planning and response needs prior to or during an infectious disease outbreak.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This document discusses gaps in preparedness for responding to emerging infectious diseases, and provides recommendations for health care facilities to prepare to identify and care for patients with MERS-CoV or other novel respiratory infections.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
The authors present a framework for allocating scarce resources and implementing interventions to limit or stop transmission during an epidemic, using limited data. They state that interventions should be targeted at groups with the highest risk of infection per individual to have the greatest impact, and that adjustments may be made as more data becomes available during the course of the epidemic.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
This web page contains links to information on MERS for healthcare providers and laboratory professionals. It also provides updates on the various outbreaks occurring around the world.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Agencies and Organizations
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
COVID-19.
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Login to favorite or comment on the article
Login to favorite or comment on the article