3.2 Outbreak investigation and infection control measures
There was no a standard fever clinic in the hospital and the patients
with fever were treated in the emergency apartment, which may be an
important reason of the outbreak of the adenovirus infection. Not
basically following the standard infection control procedures
(especially no surgical mask wearing) when the staff cared for the
patients contributed to the virus transmission.
Control measures were implemented to prevent transmission from Feb
3rd. Environmental disinfection and self-protections
(including glove and surgical mask wearing, hand hygiene) were both
reinforced. All the close contacts of the cases were either given
medical leave or treated in isolation and followed up. Visitors to the
hospital were required to wear surgical masks. In addition, monitoring
for similar symptoms (fever, cough and headache) was performed in the
entire hospital. Swab specimens from symptomatic contact were collected
and sent to the laboratory for pathogen detection.