Infect Chemother.  2015 Dec;47(4):278-302. 10.3947/ic.2015.47.4.278.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Infection Control and Prevention Guideline for Healthcare Facilities

• Kim JY
• Song JY
• Yoon YK
• Choi SH
• Song YG
• Kim SR
• Son HJ
• Jeong SY
• Choi JH
• Kim KM
• Yoon HJ
• Choi JY
• Kim TH
• Choi YH
• Kim HB
• Yoon JH
• Lee J
• Eom JS
• Lee SO
• Oh WS
• Choi JH
• Yoo JH
• Kim WJ
• Cheong HJ

• KMID: 2170508
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2015.47.4.278

Abstract

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is an acute viral respiratory illness with high mortality caused by a new strain of betacoronavirus (MERS-CoV). Since the report of the first patient in Saudi Arabia in 2012, large-scale outbreaks through hospital-acquired infection and inter-hospital transmission have been reported. Most of the patients reported in South Korea were also infected in hospital settings. Therefore, to eliminate the spread of MERS-CoV, infection prevention and control measures should be implemented with rigor. The present guideline has been drafted on the basis of the experiences of infection control in the South Korean hospitals involved in the recent MERS outbreak and on domestic and international infection prevention and control guidelines. To ensure efficient MERS-CoV infection prevention and control, care should be taken to provide comprehensive infection control measures including contact control, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, disinfection, and environmental cleaning.

Keyword

Middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Infection control; Personal protective equipment; Quarantine; Disinfection

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care*
Disease Outbreaks
Disinfection
Hand Hygiene
Humans
Infection Control*
Korea
Middle East*
Mortality
Quarantine
Saudi Arabia

Figure

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  Figure 1 Control of close contacts of a laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection case. MERS-CoV, middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; MERS, middle east respiratory syndrome.

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  Figure 2 A schematic of the procedures for donning/doffing of PPE depending on the physical space arrangement. PPE, personal protective equipment

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  Figure 3 Triple-packaging of diagnostic specimens (Category/Package: primary container, secondary container, outer package).

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  Figure 4 Movement of the autopsy team: taking off shoes and clothes and wearing a surgical gown and other PPE in the dress-in room (1), entering the autopsy room (2), taking off PPE and performing hand hygiene in the dress-out room (3), re-entering the dress-in room to put on the shoes and clothes (4) (adapted from WHO guideline [11]). PPE, personal protective equipment.

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