Table II.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) prevention measures undertaken in the medical emergency outpatient department (EMOPD) of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in comparison with the standard protocol⁸

What should have been done	What was done in PGIMER EMOPD
Educating staff about hand hygiene and isolation using posters and instructional materials	No such measure was taken
Educating patient about respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette	No such policy was declared
If there is a high index of suspicion for SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) disease, the patient should immediately be on SARS isolation precaution and all contacts of the ill patients should be identified, evaluated and monitored. Prompt SARS-CoV laboratory diagnosis should be arranged	–No separate isolation room –N-95 masks were not available initially –No systematic or standard protocol for laboratory investigation for SARS –Monitoring and evaluation of the suspected SARS case and his attendants was inadequate
Collection of appropriate samples and transport to reference laboratory following standard guidelines	Standard guidelines were not followed; a casual approach was taken
Disposal of wastes according to standard guidelines	No specific instruction was issued about waste disposal from suspected SARS case