American Journal of Infection Control
April 2015 Volume 43, Issue 4, p313-422
http://www.ajicjournal.org/current
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APIC 2015 opening plenary to feature thought-provoking panel discussion on Ebola: Music City Center in Nashville, TN, June 27-29, 2015
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The APIC 2015 Annual Conference, June 27-29 in Nashville, represents the most comprehensive infection prevention meeting in the world, complete with infection prevention experts, cutting-edge education, an exhibit hall showcasing the latest innovations, and vibrant networking events.
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Handling Europe’s first Ebola case: Internal hospital communication experience
Margarita Mosquera, MD, PhD, MPH, Victoria Melendez, PhD, Pello Latasa, MD, MPH
Published Online: February 24, 2015
Highlights
– Media communication plays an important role in a public health crisis to alarm or reassure the population.
– Internal hospital communication needs to be clear, science-based, and understandable.
– Health care workers are benchmarks for the rest of the population as a trusted source.
– Institutional communication preparedness reducing crisis response time will help social media and networks to convey reassuring coverage.
Abstract
Europe’s first Ebola virus disease (EVD) case was diagnosed in our hospital. There was an unjustified panic in the population because of an imbalance of credibility assigned to the media as opposed to scientific information. A reinforcement of hospital internal communication was needed to keep health care workers informed with up-to-date scientific EVD information. The proactive management of information flow to both internal and external actors is required to reduce unjustified fear within the public.
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Disinfecting personal protective equipment with pulsed xenon ultraviolet as a risk mitigation strategy for health care workers
Chetan Jinadatha, MD, MPH, Sarah Simmons, BS, MPH, Charles Dale, BA, Nagaraja Ganachari-Mallappa, PhD, Frank Charles Villamaria, MPH, Nicole Goulding, BS, Benjamin Tanner, PhD, Julie Stachowiak, PhD, Mark Stibich, MHS, PhD
Open Access
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2015.01.013
Highlights
– We determined the effectiveness of pulsed xenon ultraviolet against an Ebola surrogate virus on a dry inanimate surface.
– We determined the effectiveness of pulsed xenon ultraviolet against personal protective equipment material inoculated with an Ebola surrogate virus.
– We determined the level of ultraviolet exposure for a person wearing personal protective equipment.
– We described the distribution of germicidal light coverage on personal protective equipment.
Abstract
The doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) after contamination with pathogens such as Ebola poses a risk to health care workers. Pulsed xenon ultraviolet (PX-UV) disinfection has been used to disinfect surfaces in hospital settings. This study examined the impact of PX-UV disinfection on an Ebola surrogate virus on glass carriers and PPE material to examine the potential benefits of using PX-UV to decontaminate PPE while worn, thereby reducing the pathogen load prior to doffing. Ultraviolet (UV) safety and coverage tests were also conducted. PX-UV exposure resulted in a significant reduction in viral load on glass carriers and PPE materials. Occupational Safety and Health Administration–defined UV exposure limits were not exceeded during PPE disinfection. Predoffing disinfection with PX-UV has potential as an additive measure to the doffing practice guidelines. The PX-UV disinfection should not be considered sterilization; all PPE should still be considered contaminated and doffed and disposed of according to established protocols.
