Efficacy of disinfection and isolation measures in a hospital that received and treated the first case of imported Middle East respiratory syndrome in China

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of disinfection and isolation measures in a hospital that received and treated the first case of imported Middle East respiratory syndrome（MERS）in China.MethodsThe first MERS case in China was admitted in the negative pressure room of the intensive care unit in a hospital on May 28, 2015, a series of disinfection and isolation measures were taken for controlling and preventing MERS coronavirus (MERSCoV) infection.ResultsOne case of MERS confirmed by Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Chinese CDC were admitted in a hospital at 2:30 of May 28, 2015, throat swabs and blood specimens of patients were detected as positive for MERSCoV by realtime polymerase chain reaction. On the 3rd day, 8th day, 2 week after admission, and on June 21, throat swabs, blood, stool, and sputum specimen culture were negative respectively; before patient’s discharge, throat swabs, sputum, blood, and stool specimen culture were all negative for consecutive two times, there was no fever for 10 consecutive days, clinical symptoms were improved, patient finally recovered and was discharged on June 26. Detection of MERSCoV were all negative for nasal swabs, throat swabs, and blood specimens from all health care workers (HCWs) participated in the treatment for MERS;  all HCWs were performed physical examination from June 26 to July 10, none of them felt discomfort, there was no infection occurred among them. On the 7th, 13th day of admission, and following terminal disinfection, specimens of environment and object surface were taken and performed detection of MERSCoV, all were negative.ConclusionStrict implementation of disinfection and isolation measures can effectively cut off the routes of MERSCoV transmission and protect the safety of  HCWs.