Isolation rooms for highly infectious diseases: an inventory of capabilities in European countries

Abstract

Isolation of patients with highly infectious diseases (HIDs) in hospital rooms with adequate technical facilities is essential to reduce the risk of spreading disease. The European Network for Infectious Diseases (EUNID), a project co-funded by European Commission and involving 16 European Union member states, performed an inventory of high level isolation rooms (HIRs, hospital rooms with negative pressure and anteroom). In participating countries, HIRs are available in at least 211 hospitals, with at least 1789 hospital beds. The adequacy of this number is not known and will depend on prevailing circumstances. Sporadic HID cases can be managed in the available HIRs. HIRs could also have a role in the initial phases of an influenza pandemic. However, large outbreaks due to natural or to bioterrorist events will need management strategies involving healthcare facilities other than HIRs.

Current Capabilities and Capacity of Ebola Treatment Centers in the United States

“…Multilevel, interprofessional collaboration to isolate HID cases and reduce disease transmission will be crucial to contain future outbreaks. 7,25 Although the current capacity of ETCs in the United States is adequate to manage and treat the few sporadic cases of EVD that occur or are treated domestically, future HID pandemics or larger domestic outbreaks warrant surge capacity owing to the low number of patients who can be treated simultaneously in the existing facilities. Finally, although ETCs have acquired specialized capabilities and infrastructure to successfully treat and manage EVD, whether or not these units can be adapted for other HIDs is unknown and should be explored.…”

Transportation capacity for patients with highly infectious diseases in Europe: a survey in 16 nations

“…In Europe, specialized isolation facilities such as 'High Level Isolation Units' are held responsible for the management of cases in a safe clinical environment that minimizes risks for the personnel but allows state-of-the-art critical care [1]. Most often, isolation facilities are located in areas at risk for the occurrence of HIDs such as highly populated cities or are colocated with BSL-4 laboratories and international airports [15]. In contrast, experience gained from VHFs imported to Europe highlighted the fact that suspected cases are often not directly referred to isolation facilities but are encountered in standard hospitals not equipped to provide mid-or long-term care under strict infection control regimens [2,16].…”

“…The capacity, equipment and operational policy of 48 isolation facilities in 16 nations were assessed using checklists. Data collected represent the first pooled data set on the capacity of European isolation facilities [15,18]. This article depicts results on transport capacities, focusing on ground ambulances with respect to legal aspects, technical and infrastructure aspects, and operational procedures.…”

Fast-track ventilation strategy to cater for pandemic patient isolation surges

“…2,3 The nature and scale of future potential pandemics is always difficult to predict, as is the capacity of the required isolation rooms. 4 Isolation facilities are costly to build, consume more energy, disrupt smooth operations due to their segregated physical design and occupy valuable hospital space. Nevertheless pandemic outbreaks can reach magnitudes that exceed the maximum capacity of available isolation rooms.…”