13. MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS EXPOSED to SARS

PATIENTS

· The hospital shall designate a health officer who will be responsible for actively monitoring and recording HCWs according to their date and type of contact with SARS cases and development of symptoms.

· It is highly recommended that a hospital SHOULD identify a dedicated team of personnel composed of two or more sets of health care workers who will go on duty ONLY at SARS-designated areas for a two-week period alternated with a two-week quarantine at home. While one team is on duty, the other team will be on quarantine.

· HCWs should do twice-daily monitoring of body temperature and the development of respiratory symptoms such as cough and difficulty of breathing.

· The designated hospital physician must promptly evaluate, for the possibility of SARS, a healthcare worker who becomes symptomatic with cough and fever. Degree of contact with SARS patients and exclusion of other medical reasons must be considered. If the health care worker is assessed to be a SARS suspect, he or she should be admitted and managed accordingly.

· Exclusion from duty should be continued for 10 days after the resolution of fever and respiratory symptoms. During this period, the infected workers should avoid contact with persons both in the facility and in the community.

· Exclusion from duty is not recommended for an exposed healthcare worker with proper protective equipment if they do not have either fever or respiratory symptoms.

· Any unprotected exposure (contact without the prescribed PPE) of any hospital personnel to SARS patients should also be reported to the designated health officer immediately. This HCW is at high risk for SARS infection and must be placed on voluntary home confinement for 14 days.

· All healthcare facility workers should be educated concerning the symptoms of SARS.