Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS): A new zoonotic viral pneumonia

Cunha, Cheston B; Opal, Steven M

Infection control aspects of MERS have to do with preventing MERS exposures and minimizing person-to-person spread. Patients particularly from countries near the Arabian Peninsula who have an influenza-like illness should avoid travel until they are well. The following are based on CDC recommendations. If any patient has been exposed to a potential or known MERS case travel should be avoided. Household or family members exposed to potential or actual MERS cases should use masks. Such household and family members, while ill, if a family household member develops an ILI they should avoid public transportation, school, and work while ill. The individuals who are at increased risk for MERS include recent travelers from the Arabian Peninsula, particularly if such travelers develop fever and an ILI, including cough and shortness of breath, within 14 d after traveling from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula. Those that have had close contact with someone that has recently traveled with respiratory symptoms and fever from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula should be observed for 14 d starting from the day the patient was last exposed to the person. 20 Those with increased risk for MERS also include those with close contact with a probable or confirmed case of MERS. Care should be taken with the exposed individual to monitor fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other symptoms, i.e., chills, myalgias, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea for 14 d counting from the last day of exposure to the ill contact. Healthcare personnel not utilizing proper infection control precautions are at increased risk for MERS. 23, 24 Close contact may be defined as any person that provides care for a patient, including healthcare workers, family members, or someone who had similarly close physical contact or any person who stayed at the same place, lived with, or visited the patient when the patient was ill. [21] [22] [23] Infection control contact, and airborne precautions should be used while in close contact with symptomatic individuals or patients with MERS in the differential diagnosis. 25 Infection control precautions should be observed when obtaining or conducting respiratory specimen testing for MERS. To prevent transmission to household members, masks should be worn in the house. Since person-to-person transmission has been demonstrated with MERS the use of masks and handwashing are important interventions to reduce transmission.