Infection Control Guidance for Enhanced Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment

SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS)

Revised 2003-07-14

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The following fact sheet has been developed to assist health care workers (HCWs) prevent the transmission of SARS in institutions where patients suspected of having or diagnosed with SARS are being cared for. The infection control guidance is for HCWs caring for suspect or probable SARS cases. Please be advised that as more information about the cause of this illness becomes available, the information provided below may change.

The available experience on SARS transmission during intubation has been reviewed by the National Infection Control Working Group on SARS. At the present time, the evidence does not support a recommendation for use of enhanced respiratory personal protective equipment (e.g. Powered Air Purifying Respirators [PAPRs], Personal Protective Systems) when intubating SARS patients.

Patient care protocols should be developed and in place prior to the need for high-risk procedures, including intubation of SARS patients, in order that the procedures are performed in a controlled setting. Specific recommendations should include:

• Ongoing assessment of patients to determine when intubation is likely to be necessary,
• Limiting the number of persons in the room during intubation,
• Intubation should be performed by the most experienced personnel available.
• Procedures such as sedating the patient which will limit the duration of the intubation.

A more detailed statement will follow.