Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: US National Library of Medicine, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Clin Microbiol Infect. 2014 Jan 24. doi: 10.1111/1469-0691.12562. [Epub ahead of print]
Screening for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection in Hospital patients and their Health care Worker and Family Contacts: a prospective descriptive study.
Memish ZA, Al-Tawfiq JA, Makhdoom HQ, Al-Rabeeah AA, Assiri A, Alhakeem RF, Alrabiah FA, Hajjar SA, Albarrak A, Flemban H, Balkhy H, Barry M, Alhassan S, Alsubaie S, Zumla A.
Author information: Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine (GCMGM), Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health implemented a proactive surveillance program for MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). We report MERS-CoV data from 5,065 KSA individuals who were screened for MERS-CoV over a 12 month period.
METHODS:
From October 1<SUP>st</SUP> , 2012 to September 30<SUP>th</SUP> 2013 demographic and clinical data was prospectively collected from all laboratory forms received at the Saudi Arabian Virology reference laboratory. Data were analysed by referral type, age, gender, and MERS-CoV RT-PCR test results.
FINDINGS:
5,065 individuals were screened for MER-CoV: Hospitalized patients with suspected MERS-CoV infection (n=2,908, 57.4%), Health care worker (HCW) contacts (n=1695; 33.5%), and family contacts (FC) of laboratory confirmed MERS cases (n=462; 9.1%). 11% of persons tested were children (<17years old). There were 106 cases (99 adults and 7 children) of MERS-CoV infection detected during the 12 month period (106/5065, 2% case detection rate). Of 106 cases, 44 were females (5 children and 39 adults), and 62 were males (2 children and 60 adults). Of the 99 adults with MERS-CoV infection, 70 were hospitalised patients, 19 were HCW contacts, and 10 family contacts. There was no significant rises in MERS-CoV detection rates over the 12 month period, 2.6% (19/731) in July 2013, 1.7% (19/1100) in August and 1.69% (21/1238) in September 2013. Male patients had a significantly higher MERS-CoV infection rate (62/2318, 2.6%) than females (44/2747, 1.7%) (P=0.013).
INTERPRETATION:
MERS-CoV rates remain at low levels with no significant increase over time. Proactive surveillance for MERS-CoV in newly diagnosed patients and their contacts will continue. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: SARS , Clinical, Coronavirus, Demographic, Diagnosis, MERS-CoV, Middle East, RT-PCR, Screening, sample type, viral load
PMID: 24460984 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Clin Microbiol Infect. 2014 Jan 24. doi: 10.1111/1469-0691.12562. [Epub ahead of print]
Screening for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection in Hospital patients and their Health care Worker and Family Contacts: a prospective descriptive study.
Memish ZA, Al-Tawfiq JA, Makhdoom HQ, Al-Rabeeah AA, Assiri A, Alhakeem RF, Alrabiah FA, Hajjar SA, Albarrak A, Flemban H, Balkhy H, Barry M, Alhassan S, Alsubaie S, Zumla A.
Author information: Global Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine (GCMGM), Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health implemented a proactive surveillance program for MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). We report MERS-CoV data from 5,065 KSA individuals who were screened for MERS-CoV over a 12 month period.
METHODS:
From October 1<SUP>st</SUP> , 2012 to September 30<SUP>th</SUP> 2013 demographic and clinical data was prospectively collected from all laboratory forms received at the Saudi Arabian Virology reference laboratory. Data were analysed by referral type, age, gender, and MERS-CoV RT-PCR test results.
FINDINGS:
5,065 individuals were screened for MER-CoV: Hospitalized patients with suspected MERS-CoV infection (n=2,908, 57.4%), Health care worker (HCW) contacts (n=1695; 33.5%), and family contacts (FC) of laboratory confirmed MERS cases (n=462; 9.1%). 11% of persons tested were children (<17years old). There were 106 cases (99 adults and 7 children) of MERS-CoV infection detected during the 12 month period (106/5065, 2% case detection rate). Of 106 cases, 44 were females (5 children and 39 adults), and 62 were males (2 children and 60 adults). Of the 99 adults with MERS-CoV infection, 70 were hospitalised patients, 19 were HCW contacts, and 10 family contacts. There was no significant rises in MERS-CoV detection rates over the 12 month period, 2.6% (19/731) in July 2013, 1.7% (19/1100) in August and 1.69% (21/1238) in September 2013. Male patients had a significantly higher MERS-CoV infection rate (62/2318, 2.6%) than females (44/2747, 1.7%) (P=0.013).
INTERPRETATION:
MERS-CoV rates remain at low levels with no significant increase over time. Proactive surveillance for MERS-CoV in newly diagnosed patients and their contacts will continue. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: SARS , Clinical, Coronavirus, Demographic, Diagnosis, MERS-CoV, Middle East, RT-PCR, Screening, sample type, viral load
PMID: 24460984 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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