Epidemiol Health.  2017;39:e2017052. 10.4178/epih.e2017052.

Healthcare worker infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Korea, 2015

• Nam HS
• Yeon MY
• Park JW
• Hong JY
• Son JW

• KMID: 2406656
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2017052

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
During the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Korea in 2015, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed a case of MERS in a healthcare worker in Daejeon, South Korea. To verify the precise route of infection for the case, we conducted an in-depth epidemiological investigation in cooperation with the KCDC.
METHODS
We reviewed the MERS outbreak investigation report of the KCDC, and interviewed the healthcare worker who had recovered from MERS. Using the media interview data, we reaffirmed and supplemented the nature of the exposure.
RESULTS
The healthcare worker, a nurse, was infected while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for a MERS patient in an isolation room. During the CPR which lasted for an hour, a large amount of body fluid was splashed. The nurse was presumed to have touched the mask to adjust its position during the CPR. She suggested that she was contaminated with the MERS patient's body fluids by wiping away the sweat from her face during the CPR.
CONCLUSIONS
The possible routes of infection may include the following: respiratory invasion of aerosols contaminated with MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) through a gap between the face and mask; mucosal exposure to sweat contaminated with MERS-CoV; and contamination during doffing of personal protective equipment. The MERS guidelines should reflect this case to decrease the risk of infection during CPR.

Keyword

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome; Epidemiology; Infectious disease transmission; Patient-to-professional; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Korea

MeSH Terms

Aerosols
Body Fluids
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Coronavirus Infections*
Delivery of Health Care*
Disease Transmission, Infectious
Epidemiology
Humans
Korea*
Masks
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Middle East*
Personal Protective Equipment
Sweat
Aerosols