SARS in Pregnancy

While severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is increasing in prevalence throughout the world, there had not been a documented case of SARS in pregnancy until early 2003, when a pregnant woman infected with SARS sought care at this New Jersey Hospital in March 2003. As this patient was the only known pregnant SARS patient in the U.S., there was a critical need to balance patient privacy, confidentiality, general care needs and support with a worldwide need for knowledge about the outcomes from SARS infections. Here's how the hospital staff worked with all of the agencies to develop protocols and coordinate this mother's and infant's care.