Guideline on management of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has recently been recognised as a newly emerging infectious disease that is highly contagious with significant morbidity and mortality. The first index case in Hong Kong was admitted on Feb 22, 2003. As of April 6, 842 cases have been identified in Hong Kong, with fatal complications in 22 patients. The outbreak has prompted the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong and the Department of Health to implement a series of public-health measures and hospital policies for the diagnosis and management of patients with SARS. The figures are summaries of the management flowchart in the accident and emergency department for patients with a history of definite contact with SARS patients within the past 10 days (figure 1) and for patients with no such definite contact (figure 2). The Hong Kong Hospital Authority SARS Command Centre has been established to coordinate clinical activities, including identification and reporting of cases, implementation of infection-control measures, dissemination of information to the public, development of diagnostic tests, and assessment of treatment regimens in a cluster network of hospitals. Each hospital cluster has designated treatment centres. The Hospital Authority Guideline on management of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)