Table 1. Characteristics of healthcare workers and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) index patient contact.

Characteristics*	No. (%) of healthcare workers (N = 27)
Demographic characteristics
Age group (y)
20–29	7 (26)
30–39	9 (33)
40–49	8 (30)
≥50	3 (11)
Sex: female	18 (67)
Occupation
Nurse	10 (37)
Respiratory therapist	8 (30)
Other†	9 (33)
No. with laboratory-confirmed SARS	3 (11)
Contact characteristics
Cumulative time spent in patient's room‡
≤10 min	9 (35)
11–30 min	8 (31)
31 min–4 h	6 (23)
>4 h	3 (11)
Touched patient	16 (59)
Face ≤3 feet of patient	18 (67)
Contact with mucous membranes or respiratory secretions	7 (26)
Patient coughing or spitting while healthcare worker was present	11 (41)
Performed or assisted with intubation	2 (7)

*Characteristics ascertained from initial interview.
†Other occupation categories include service assistants, residents, 1 physician, and 1 pharmacist.
‡Based on 26 healthcare worker responses.