Table 1. Characteristics of included studies.
| Study; Country | Design/Setting | Period of evaluation | Population | Assessment of training and protective equipment? | Laboratory tests | Study quality (GRADE) |
| Raboud et al, 2010 [25] Canada | Retrospective cohort study; Multiple hospitals | 2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto | 624 HCWs (physicians, residents, nurses, therapists, technologists, housekeepers, others) | Yes | Culture and PCR for SARS-CoV | VERY LOW |
| Chen et al, 2009 [20] China | Case-control study; Hospital | 2003 SARS outbreak in Guangzhou | 758 HCWs (doctors, nurses, health attendants, technicians, others) | Yes | ELISA for antibody against SARS-CoV | VERY LOW |
| Liu et al, 2009 [24] China | Case-control; Hospital | 2003 SARS outbreak in Beijing | 477 HCWs (medical staff, nursing staff, others) | Yes | ELISA for antibody against SARS-CoV | VERY LOW |
| Pei et al, 2006 [21] China | Case-control study; Three hospitals | 2002–2003 SARS outbreak in Beijing and Tianjin | 443 HCWs (doctors, nurses, technicians, administrators, others) | Yes | Not mentioned of methods to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV | VERY LOW |
| Fowler et al, 2004 [26] Canada | Retrospective cohort study; Intensive care unit | 2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto | 122 critical care staff (physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, others) | No, on training All HCWs wore gloves, gowns, N-95/PCM 2,000 masks, and hairnets. Eye and face shields were variably employed | PCR or serology for SARS-CoV | VERY LOW |
| Loeb et al, 2004 [27] Canada | Retrospective cohort study; Intensive care unit; Coronary care unit | 2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto | 43 nurses | Yes | Serology, immunofluorescence | VERY LOW |
| Ma et al, 2004 [22] China | Case-control study; Five hospitals | 2003 SARS outbreak in Beijing | HCWs (nurse assistants, janitors and others) (N = 473) | Yes | Diagnostic criteria for SARS from Chinese Minister of Health | VERY LOW |
| Teleman et al, 2004 [23] Singapore | Case-control study; Hospital | 2003 SARS outbreak in Singapore | 86 HCWs (doctors, nurses, others) | Not mentioned | Symptoms, chest X-ray and serology | VERY LOW |
| Wong et al, 2004 [28] China | Retrospective cohort study; Hospital | 2003 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong | 66 medical students | Yes, on personal protection equipmentNo, on training | Indirect immunofluorescent to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV | VERY LOW |
| Scales et al, 2003 [29] Canada | Retrospective cohort study; Intensive care unit | 2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto | 69 intensive care staff | Unclear | Radiographic lung infiltrates | VERY LOW |
CoV: coronavirus; HCWs: health care workers; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; SARS: severe acute respiratory syndrome.