Patients Under Investigation for Ebola Virus Disease in the United States: Hospital Preparedness Planning and Alternate Care Facilities

Survey of Ebola Preparedness in Washington State Emergency Departments

“…Comprehensive training on PPE, the use of experienced observers, and conducting operational drills are essential to deliver high-quality and safe patient care. 12 When asked to quantify the percentage of physicians and nurses who have been through the training process, hospitals with designated EVD teams generally achieved higher rates of physician training, although statistical significance could be not assessed owing to the studies being underpowered. Confidence in proper usage of PPE also seemed to be higher in facilities with predesignated EVD teams than in those without (89% vs 61% on a Likert scale with score ≥5).…”

Ebola or Not? Evaluating the Ill Traveler From Ebola-Affected Countries in West Africa

“…A key challenge of evaluating ill persons with possible EVD results from the many other infectious diseases, and noninfectious conditions that are more likely in travelers returning from Ebola-affected areas, particularly when the epidemiologic risk of EVD is low [ 8 , 9 ]. When evaluating a PUI, other diagnoses should always be considered while maintaining appropriate infection prevention precautions [ 14 – 16 ]. However, because coinfections with Ebola virus and other infections are possible [ 19 ], it should be emphasized that confirmation of a non-Ebola diagnosis does not effectively rule out EVD, and patients must be monitored closely to ensure clinical improvement before they can be determined to be free of EVD.…”

“…Outpatients who met criteria for PUI were triaged by on-call infectious disease physicians to the tropical medicine clinic, ED, or ETU for further management [ 14 , 16 ], depending on the level of suspicion for EVD and symptoms. Whenever possible, PUI with low epidemiologic risk for EVD and without “wet” symptoms (such as active diarrhea, vomiting, or bleeding) were triaged to the tropical medicine clinic.…”

“…When possible, physicians at the Emory tropical medicine clinic, ED, or ETU were notified in advance of a patient meeting PUI criteria. For patients arriving unexpectedly, screening protocols were integrated into the check-in procedures in the EDs and clinics to identify and isolate PUI [ 14 , 16 ]. Patients screening positive in areas not designated to evaluate PUI were urgently evaluated by an on-call infectious disease staff to confirm their status and arrange transport to the tropical medicine clinic or ED if needed.…”

Current views and advances on Paediatric Virology: An update for paediatric trainees

“…Emergency Departments (EDs) should be ready for such attacks, especially catering for the needs of paediatric victims ( 50 , 51 ). Carley's consensus statement for formulating major incident plans can be quite helpful ( 52 ).…”