Are hospitals ready for SARS?

"It is not possible to predict whether SARS will reappear, but it could from its original animal reservoir, persistent infection in humans, or the laboratory."

That’s a line from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention draft recommendations for hospitals and public health agencies on preparedness for another outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

The draft recommends hospitals screen all pneumonia patients by asking them about travel to countries affected by SARS and two other questions. Hospitals also should provide surgical masks to patients with respiratory illnesses and separate them from other patients. And hospitals should consider installing plexiglass barriers between patients and staff in registration and triage areas. Read the draft.