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Healthcare worker exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Revision of screening strategies urgently needed.
Int J Infect Dis. 2018 Jun; 71:113-116.IJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continues to cause frequent hospital outbreaks in Saudi Arabia, with emergency departments as the initial site of the spread of this virus.

METHODS

The risk of transmission of MERS-CoV infection to healthcare workers (HCWs) was assessed in an outbreak in Riyadh. All HCWs with unprotected exposure to confirmed cases were tested after 24h of exposure. Two negative results for MERS-CoV obtained 3days apart and being free of any suggestive signs and symptoms were used to end the isolation of the HCWs and allow their return to duty.

RESULTS

Overall 17 out of 879 HCWS with different levels of exposure tested positive for MERS-CoV. Of the 15 positive HCWS with adequate follow-up, 40% (6/15 HCWs) tested positive on the first sampling and 53% (8/15) tested positive on the second sampling. The time to negative results among the 15 positive HCWs ranged between 4 and 47days (average 14.5 days) and the infected HCWs needed on average two samples for clearance. All positive HCWs were either asymptomatic or had mild disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The data obtained in this study support the widespread testing of all close contacts of MERS-CoV cases, regardless of the significance of the contact or presence or absence of symptoms. In addition, urgent careful review of guidance regarding the return of asymptomatic MERS-CoV-positive HCWs under investigation to active duty is needed.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Amer H
Infection Control Department, King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Community Medicine, National Research Center, Egypt. Electronic address: haamr@ksmc.med.sa.
Alqahtani AS
Medical Affairs, King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: asalqahtani@ksmc.med.sa.
Alaklobi F
Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Falaklobi@ksmc.med.sa.
Altayeb J
Infection Control Department, King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: jaltiyeb@ksmc.med.sa.
Memish ZA
College of Medicine, Alfaisal University and Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: memishz@pmah.med.sa.

MeSH

AdultCoronavirus InfectionsDisease OutbreaksFemaleHealth PersonnelHumansMaleMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome CoronavirusOccupational ExposureSaudi Arabia

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

29649550

Citation

Amer, Hala, et al. "Healthcare Worker Exposure to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Revision of Screening Strategies Urgently Needed." International Journal of Infectious Diseases : IJID : Official Publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, vol. 71, 2018, pp. 113-116.
Amer H, Alqahtani AS, Alaklobi F, et al. Healthcare worker exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Revision of screening strategies urgently needed. Int J Infect Dis. 2018;71:113-116.
Amer, H., Alqahtani, A. S., Alaklobi, F., Altayeb, J., & Memish, Z. A. (2018). Healthcare worker exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Revision of screening strategies urgently needed. International Journal of Infectious Diseases : IJID : Official Publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, 71, 113-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2018.04.001
Amer H, et al. Healthcare Worker Exposure to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Revision of Screening Strategies Urgently Needed. Int J Infect Dis. 2018;71:113-116. PubMed PMID: 29649550.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Healthcare worker exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Revision of screening strategies urgently needed. AU - Amer,Hala, AU - Alqahtani,Abdulrahman S, AU - Alaklobi,Faisal, AU - Altayeb,Juhaina, AU - Memish,Ziad A, Y1 - 2018/04/09/ PY - 2018/03/15/received PY - 2018/04/03/revised PY - 2018/04/03/accepted PY - 2018/4/13/pubmed PY - 2018/9/28/medline PY - 2018/4/13/entrez KW - HCWs KW - Isolation KW - MERS-CoV KW - Quarantine KW - Saudi Arabia KW - Screening SP - 113 EP - 116 JF - International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases JO - Int J Infect Dis VL - 71 N2 - OBJECTIVES: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continues to cause frequent hospital outbreaks in Saudi Arabia, with emergency departments as the initial site of the spread of this virus. METHODS: The risk of transmission of MERS-CoV infection to healthcare workers (HCWs) was assessed in an outbreak in Riyadh. All HCWs with unprotected exposure to confirmed cases were tested after 24h of exposure. Two negative results for MERS-CoV obtained 3days apart and being free of any suggestive signs and symptoms were used to end the isolation of the HCWs and allow their return to duty. RESULTS: Overall 17 out of 879 HCWS with different levels of exposure tested positive for MERS-CoV. Of the 15 positive HCWS with adequate follow-up, 40% (6/15 HCWs) tested positive on the first sampling and 53% (8/15) tested positive on the second sampling. The time to negative results among the 15 positive HCWs ranged between 4 and 47days (average 14.5 days) and the infected HCWs needed on average two samples for clearance. All positive HCWs were either asymptomatic or had mild disease. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained in this study support the widespread testing of all close contacts of MERS-CoV cases, regardless of the significance of the contact or presence or absence of symptoms. In addition, urgent careful review of guidance regarding the return of asymptomatic MERS-CoV-positive HCWs under investigation to active duty is needed. SN - 1878-3511 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/29649550/Healthcare_worker_exposure_to_Middle_East_respiratory_syndrome_coronavirus__MERS_CoV_:_Revision_of_screening_strategies_urgently_needed_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -