Author, year | Study Design | Level of Evidence | Subjects (n) | Study Groups | Study outcomes | Conclusion | Directness of evidence |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chen, 2009 [29] | Retrospective cohort study | 3 | 758 | HCWs involved in care of SARS patients | Risk factors for SARS infection in HCWs, based on survey. | Univariate regression reveals increased OR for developing SARS: 4.15 (1.50–11.50), but this was not significant in their multivariate log regression analysis, which did not reveal an increased risk of performing tracheotomy. | Indirect |
Wei, 2003 [30] | Cohort study, with high risk of bias | 4 | 3 | HCWs involved in SARS patients, requiring tracheotomies | SARS infection in HCWs, 3 tracheotomies | No medical personnel became infected after carrying out the procedure. | Indirect |
Chee, 2004 [31] | Case control | 4 | 124 HCWs | HCWs involved in care of SARS patients | SARS infection in HCWs. 41 surgical procedures, including 15 tracheotomies | No transmission of SARS was reported within the operating room | Indirect |
Tien, 2005 [32] | Cohort study, with high risk of bias | 4 | 3 | HCWs involved in care of SARS patients | SARS infection in HCWs, 3 tracheotomies | Six months after the procedure, all staff involved in the tracheotomies remained healthy | Indirect |