CDC guidance for healthcare providers
On Oct. 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the following interim guidance for specimen collection, transporting, testing and submission related to the Ebola virus in the United States. -
Health care providers are asked to review the following:
- Checklist for Patients Being Evaluated for Ebola Virus Disease in the United States
- Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points for Management of Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Disease in the United States.
This guidance explains the biosafety requirements for collection and routine testing of specimens for staff working in laboratory and healthcare settings. The latest general information on the outbreak is available on the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa highlights section of the CDC website. This is the largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease ever documented and the first recorded in West Africa.
Key Points
1. U.S. clinical laboratories can safely handle specimens from potential Ebola patients by utilizing standard precautions and by following CDC recommended practices in the laboratory, specifically associated with blood-borne pathogens.
2. Risk assessments should be conducted by each laboratory director, biosafety officer, or other responsible person to determine the potential for sprays, splashes, or aerosol-generated during laboratory procedures and then decide upon appropriate methods for mitigation.
3. Any person collecting specimens from a patient with suspected Ebola virus disease should wear gloves, water-resistant gowns, full face shield or goggles, and masks to cover all of the nose and mouth.
4. Anyone collecting specimens from a patient should follow the procedures below for transporting them through the healthcare facility, clean-up of spills, storing, packaging and shipping to CDC for testing.
Additional information for health care providers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Oct. 1 released new Ebola resources and guidance for health care providers, including an algorithm for evaluating travelers who have returned from Ebola-affected countries.
Health care providers are requested to:
- increase their vigilance in inquiring about a history of travel to West Africa in the 21 days or potential contact with infectious materials before illness onset for any patient presenting with fever or other symptoms consistent with Ebola;
- isolate patients who report a travel history to an Ebola-affected country (currently Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea) and who are exhibiting Ebola symptoms in a private room with a private bathroom, and implement standard, contact and droplet precautions (gowns, facemask, eye protection and gloves); and,
- immediately notify Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH):
- During business hours call (800) 362-2736
- After hours call (515) 323-4360. The Iowa State Patrol will contact IDPH.
CDC is working with the World Health Organization (WHO), the ministries of health and other international organizations in response to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, which was first reported in late March 2014.
