Public Health England (PHE) has issued guidance for primary care professionals dealing with a suspected case of Wuhan novel coronavirus infection (WN-CoV), as the outbreak continues to spread.
- The advice is that an unwell patient with a relevant travel history should be identified when they book in at reception and placed in a room away from other patients and staff. The patient should remain in the room with the door closed. Belongings and waste should remain in the room.
- Following patient transfer, the room should be closed and should not be used until further advice is provided by the local Health Protection Team.
- If WN-CoV is considered possible when a consultation is already in progress, withdraw from the room, close the door and wash your hands thoroughly.
- Avoid physical examination of a suspected case.
- If a clinical history still needs to be obtained or completed, do this by telephone.
- The patient should not be allowed to use communal toilet facilities.
- Seek specialist advice from a local microbiologist, virologist or infectious diseases physician.
- When a telephone interview is being conducted with a patient located elsewhere and it determined that WN-CoV is possible, avoid a face-to-face assessment in primary care and for specialist assistance.
The current criteria for possible WN-CoV infection are as follows:
- Travel to Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in the 14 days before the onset of illness or contact with confirmed cases of WN-CoV.
- Severe acute respiratory infection requiring hospital admission with clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome OR acute respiratory infection of any degree of severity (including at least one of the following: shortness of breath, cough or sore throat).
PHE advises that clinicians should be alert to the possibility of atypical presentations in patients who are immunocompromised.
References
References
