Steven M. Gordon, MD Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Epidemiologist, The Cleveland Clinic
David L. Longworth, MD Chairman, Department of Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Mass; Deputy Chairman, Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston
Address: Steven M. Gordon, MD, Department of Infectious Diseases, S31, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195; e-mail: gordons@ccf.org
Medical Grand Rounds articles are based on edited transcripts from Division of Medicine Grand Rounds presentations at The Cleveland Clinic. They are approved by the authors but are not peer-reviewed.
This paper discusses therapies that are experimental or are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the use under discussion.
ABSTRACTSevere acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is probably here to stay, and every health care institution should take precautions against an outbreak. The signs and symptoms of SARS are nonspecific, and there is no early diagnostic test, no specific treatment, and no vaccine. In some parts of the world, including Canada, more than 80% of probable cases were nosocomial.
