Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Treatment Centre. Practical manual to set up and manage a SARI treatment centre and a SARI screening facility in health care facilities

Abstract

Purpose, scope and audience of this document: This document provides recommendations, technical guidance, standards and minimum requirements for setting up and operating severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) treatment centres in low- and middle-income countries and limited-resource settings, including the standards needed to repurpose an existing building into a SARI treatment centre, and specifically for acute respiratory infections that have the potential for rapid spread and may cause epidemics or pandemics. Some of the epidemic-prone acute respiratory infections may constitute a global public health emergency. According to the International Health Regulations published in 2005 (3), the respiratory disease events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern include: •severe acute respiratory syndrome, such as MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2); •human influenza caused by a new subtype, including human episodes of avian influenza; •pneumonic plague; •novel acute respiratory infections that can cause large-scale outbreaks or outbreaks with high morbidity and mortality. This document recommends the situations in which the building of a SARI treatment centre is indicated through defined thresholds, such as number of cases beyond the capacity of the health-care system or inadequate installation of health facilities. This document is for use by health managers and planners, architects, engineers, logistics staff, water and sanitation staff, clinical and nursing staff, carers and other health-care providers, and health promoters. It can be used to: •develop specific national standards relevant to SARI outbreak preparedness, readiness and response in different contexts; •support the application of national standards and set specific targets in specific SARI treatment centre settings; •assess the situation regarding environmental health and engineering standards in existing SARI treatment centres to evaluate the extent to which they may fall short of national plans and local targets; •plan and carry out the required improvements; •ensure the construction of new SARI treatment centres is of acceptable quality; •prepare and implement comprehensive and realistic action plans so acceptable conditions are achieved and maintained. This document deals with SARI treatment centre design and flow, water supply (quality, quantity, access), excreta disposal, health-care waste management, cleaning, building design (including ventilation), construction and management, and hygiene. It is designed primarily for use in health-care settings in precarious situations and in situations where simple and affordable measures can improve hygiene and health significantly.