Organization of Patient Care during the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Epidemic in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1995

Abstract

In contrast with procedures in previous Ebola outbreaks, patient care during the 1995 outbreak in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo, was centralized for a large number of patients. On 4 May, before the diagnosis of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an isolation ward was created at Kikwit General Hospital. On 11 May, an international scientific and technical committee established as a priority the improvement of hygienic conditions in the hospital and the protection of health care workers and family members; to this end, protective equipment was distributed and barrier-nursing techniques were implemented. For patients living far from Kikwit, home care was organized. Initially, hospitalized patients were given only oral treatments; however, toward the end of the epidemic, infusions and better nutritional support were given, and 8 patients received blood from convalescent EHF patients. Only 1 of the transfusion patients died (12.5%). It is expected that with improved medical care, the case fatality rate of EHF could be reduced.

Ebola Virus Shedding and Transmission: Review of Current Evidence

“…Only a few EVD cases after needle sticks have been reported [46,53,[56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65]. However, parenteral inoculation is clearly established as a potent means of transmission and was associated with a shorter incubation period (6.3 days vs 9.5 days) and a higher overall mortality level (100% vs 88%) during the initial outbreak of EVD, in Yambuku during 1976 [66].…”

Providing Care and Facing Death: Nursing During Ebola Outbreaks in Central Africa

“…The health care system in DRC was impaired. Guimard et al (1999) reported that during the outbreak at the Kikwit hospital, "The hygienic working conditions were far from ideal" (p. 269). There was no running water, no electricity, and no working waste disposal system.…”

Rapid detection protocol for filoviruses

“…Ill patients have a very high viremia, and RT-PCR has been shown to be useful in an epidemic setting (Leroy et al, 2000 ;Sanchez et al, 1999). It is also routinely used on shipped specimen in specialized laboratories (Guimard et al, 1999).…”