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A Hospital Contingency Plan for Exotic Communicable Diseases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Beverly A. Campbell ,
M. Dorothy Pequegnat  and
Alastair J. Clayton
Beverly A. Campbell*
Affiliation:
Bureau of Infection Control, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Protection Branch, Department of National Health & Welfare, and theOttawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
M. Dorothy Pequegnat
Affiliation:
Bureau of Infection Control, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Protection Branch, Department of National Health & Welfare, and theOttawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
Alastair J. Clayton
Affiliation:
Bureau of Infection Control, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Health Protection Branch, Department of National Health & Welfare, and theOttawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
*
Bureau of Infection Control, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OL2, Canada
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Abstract

The exotic communicable diseases are highly virulent, transmissible, conditions which occur most often in tropical areas. Since the late 1960s, there have been occasions when these diseases have been exported to the US and Canada. Advance planning will facilitate the care of patients infected with these diseases in health care facilities. Hospitals should develop a contingency plan which addresses the management of patients that present themselves to the emergency department as well as patients diagnosed after admission. The plan should address such topics as the isolation room, protective clothing, disinfection of the environment and equipment as well as the management of waste and handling of corpses. A well thought out plan will prevent subsequent transmission of infection to attending personnel, other patients and the surrounding community.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 5 , Issue 12 , December 1984 , pp. 565 - 569
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1984

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