Published online April 8, 2003
http://image.thelancet.com/extras/03cmt89web.pdf
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has recently been recognised as a newly emerging infectious disease that is highly contagious with significant morbidity and mortality. The first index case in Hong Kong was admitted on Feb 22, 2003. As of April 6, 842 cases have been identified in Hong Kong, with fatal complications in 22 patients. The outbreak has prompted the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong and the Department of Health to implement a series of public-health measures and hospital policies for the diagnosis and management of patients with SARS.
The figures are summaries of the management flowchart in the accident and emergency department for patients with a history of definite contact with SARS patients within the past 10 days (figure 1 ) and for patients with no such definite contact (figure 2 ).
Figure 1.
Accident and emergency department management for person with definite contact* with person with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) within past 10 days
Figure 2.
Accident and emergency department management for person with no definite contact* with person with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority SARS Command Centre has been established to coordinate clinical activities, including identification and reporting of cases, implementation of infection-control measures, dissemination of information to the public, development of diagnostic tests, and assessment of treatment regimens in a cluster network of hospitals. Each hospital cluster has designated treatment centres. The Hospital Authority and the Department of Health are working collaboratively with the two universities (the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong) and with international agencies to identify the aetiological agent(s).
For details of management plans for patients in the guidelines, see: http://www.ha.org.hk
Acknowledgments
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority Working Group on SARS and Central Committee on Infection Control contributed to the guidelines. Members include physicians, microbiologists, and scientists from the Hospital Authority, Department of Health, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of Hong Kong.
The Working Group members include: Paul Chan, Y C Chan, C M Chu, David Hui, K Y Lai, S T Lai, Allan Lau, C C Lau, Y L Lau, P W Lee, C W Leung, A C H Lit, S F Lui, Y W Mok, J S M Peiris, W H Seto, Joseph J Y Sung, H K Tong, Ken Tsang, N C Tsang, Loretta Yam, W W Yan, Wilson Yee, W C Yu, and Raymond Yung.
The Central Committee on Infection Control members include: Paul Chan, Y C Chan, Patricia Ching, David Hui, Melissa Ho, S T Lai, W M Lai, Barbara Lam, Samuel Law, W K Luk, D J Lyon, Phyllis Mak, T K Ng, J S M Peiris, T L Que, W H Seto, W K To, N C Tsang, Clara Yip, and Raymond Yung.