Identified Transmission Dynamics of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection During an Outbreak: Implications of an Overcrowded Emergency Department

Thamer H Alenazi; Hussain Al Arbash; Aiman El-Saed; Majid M Alshamrani; Henry Baffoe-Bonnie; Yaseen M Arabi; Sameera M Al Johani; Ra'ed Hijazi; Adel Alothman; Hanan H Balkhy

doi:10.1093/cid/cix352

Identified Transmission Dynamics of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection During an Outbreak: Implications of an Overcrowded Emergency Department

Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Aug 15;65(4):675-679. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix352.

Authors

Thamer H Alenazi^{1

2}, Hussain Al Arbash³, Aiman El-Saed^{1

2}, Majid M Alshamrani^{1

2}, Henry Baffoe-Bonnie¹, Yaseen M Arabi^{2

4}, Sameera M Al Johani^{2

5}, Ra'ed Hijazi⁶, Adel Alothman^{2

7}, Hanan H Balkhy^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Infection Prevention and Control Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs.
² King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.
³ Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Health.
⁴ Intensive Care Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
⁵ Department of Pathology, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Emergency Care Center, King Saud University, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
⁷ Division of Infectious Diseases, Depatment of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

A total 130 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus were identified during a large hospital outbreak in Saudi Arabia; 87 patients and 43 healthcare workers. The majority (80%) of transmission was healthcare-acquired (HAI) infection, with 4 generations of HAI transmission. The emergency department was the main location of exposure.

Keywords: Middle East respiratory syndrome; Saudi Arabia; coronavirus; outbreak; transmission.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Contact Tracing
Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
Coronavirus Infections / transmission*
Cross Infection / epidemiology
Cross Infection / prevention & control
Cross Infection / transmission*
Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Health Personnel
Hospitals
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus*
Prospective Studies
Saudi Arabia / epidemiology