Preparedness for admission of patients with suspected Ebola virus disease in European hospitals: a survey, August-September 2014

Abstract

In response to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa, the World Health Organization has advised all nations to prepare for the detection, investigation and management of confirmed and suspected EVD cases in order to prevent further spread through international travel. To gain insights into the state of preparedness of European hospitals, an electronic survey was circulated in August–September 2014 to 984 medical professionals representing 736 hospitals in 40 countries. The survey addressed the willingness and capacity to admit patients with suspected EVD as well as specific preparedness activities in response to the current Ebola crisis. Evaluable responses were received from representatives of 254 (32%) hospitals in 38 countries, mostly tertiary care centres, of which 46% indicated that they would admit patients with suspected EVD. Patient transfer agreements were in place for the majority of hospitals that would not admit patients. Compared with non-admitting hospitals, admitting hospitals were more frequently engaged in various preparedness activities and more often contained basic infrastructural characteristics such as admission rooms and laboratories considered important for infection control, but some gaps and concerns were also identified. The results of this survey help to provide direction towards further preparedness activities and prioritisation thereof.

Multi‐professional simulation and risk perception of health care workers caring for Ebola‐infected patients

“…The possibility of attending cases of Ebola (and other highly contagious infections that require high isolation) is a challenge for Western health systems. As a result, guidelines for the care and treatment of potential cases have been updated in different hospitals and countries (de Jong et al, ; Fauci, ). Furthermore, the high contagiousness of patients seeking help in hospitals makes health care workers potential victims and a source of infection.…”

Preparedness of institutions around the world for managing patients with Ebola virus disease: an infection control readiness checklist

“…The isolation rooms with recommended standards of negative pressure ventilation and the presence of anteroom were lower both for admitting and non-admitting EVD patients (57 % and 34 %) when compared to the survey of 48 highly infectious diseases units in 16 European countries (100 and 90 %) and also the recent survey in 14 European countries (87 and 69 % respectively). This indicates some of the global inequalities with regards to healthcare resources between North and South [6,7].…”

“…The EVD transmission cases in healthcare workers in Spain and US have demonstrated the absolute need for adequate training of healthcare workers in correct PPE donning and doffing sequences as well as in developed countries. Of note, in a recent survey of preparedness for admission of EVD patients in European hospitals, the authors identified a high proportion of hospitals (27 %) not having performed training for healthcare workers' putting on and removal of PPE through safe methods [6]. Comparable to the findings based on European hospitals (46 %), from de Jong and colleagues [6], our survey demonstrated that 49 % of admitting hospitals had plans in place for regular in-house drills, testing the systems put in place.…”

“…Of note, in a recent survey of preparedness for admission of EVD patients in European hospitals, the authors identified a high proportion of hospitals (27 %) not having performed training for healthcare workers' putting on and removal of PPE through safe methods [6]. Comparable to the findings based on European hospitals (46 %), from de Jong and colleagues [6], our survey demonstrated that 49 % of admitting hospitals had plans in place for regular in-house drills, testing the systems put in place. On the other hand, only 28 % of non-admitting hospitals would perform such exercises.…”

“…We would like to thank members of the Infection Control Association (Singapore) for creating the basis of the checklist (Dr Moi Lin Ling, Ms Lai Chee Lee, Ms Lily Lang, Dr Paul A. Tambyah, Dr Brenda Ang) and all those colleagues who spent their time in completing this survey. 6 Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 7 National Healthcare Groups Polyclinics, Singapore, Singapore.…”