Hand Hygiene, PPE are Effective Practices Against MERS

Wiboonchutikul, et al. (2016) report on a hospital-associated outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and assess the effectiveness of infection control measures among healthcare workers (HCWs) who were exposed to a MERS patient and/or his body fluids in their institute.

A descriptive study was conducted among HCWs who worked with a MERS patient in Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, Thailand, between June 18 and July 3, 2015. Contacts were defined as HCWs who worked in the patient’s room or with the patient’s body fluids. Serum samples from all contacts were collected within 14 days of last contact and one month later. Paired sera were tested for detection of MERSCoV antibodies by using an indirect ELISA.

Thirty-eight (88.4 percent) of 43 identified contacts consented to enroll. The mean (SD) age was 38.1 (11.1) years, and 79 percent were females. The median (IQR) cumulative duration of work of HCWs in the patient’s room was 35 (20–165) minutes. The median (IQR) cumulative duration of work of HCWs with the patient’s blood or body fluids in laboratory was 67.5 (43.7–117.5) minutes. All contacts reported 100 percent compliance with hand hygiene, using N95 respirator, performing respirator fit test, wearing gown, gloves, eye protection, and cap during their entire working period. All serum specimens of contacts tested for MERS-CoV antibodies were negative.

The researchers say they provide evidence of effective infection control practices against MERS-CoV transmission in a healthcare facility. Strict infection control precautions can protect HCWs. The optimal infection control measures for MERS-CoV should be further evaluated.

Reference: Wiboonchutikul S, Manosuthi W, et al. Lack of transmission among healthcare workers in contact with a case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in Thailand. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control. 2016;5:21.