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.