For any of you kiddos on here wondering.....I am some of you have read everything there is to read..... Background Ebola virus disease (EVD) is the cause of a viral hemorrhagic fever disease. EVD first appeared in 1976; five different strains of EVD have been identified. The current outbreak in West Africa is the largest outbreak on record. Transmission • Ebola is spread through direct contact – such as through broken skin or unprotected mucous membranes – with blood or body fluids of a person sick with EVD. Body fluids include urine, feces, saliva, semen, sweat, and breast milk. The virus enters the body through broken skin or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. It can also be transmitted via contaminated needles. • In Africa EVD has been spread by handling bush meat (wild animals hunted for food) or contact with infected bats. Signs and Symptoms • The incubation period for Ebola is two to 21 days, although symptoms most commonly appear eight to 12 days after exposure. • Symptoms include the abrupt onset of fever, chills, myalgias and malaise followed by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cough, headache and conjunctival hemorrhages. • Laboratory findings include leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated transaminases, proteinuria and markers of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). • EVD should be suspected in a patient with a history of travel to an outbreak area in the last 21 days OR who has had contact with a sick person from the affected area in the last 21 days AND who has the symptoms listed above. 2 Treatment • Supportive care, including rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids, and treatment of specific symptoms improves survival. • A range of potential treatments including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies are currently being evaluated. • Experimental treatments can only be obtained in consultation with public health authorities. Prevention • Isolation precautions recommended by the CDC include standard, droplet and contact precautions. • Prior to October 15, the CDC recommended that, at a minimum, all health care providers wear gloves, gown (fluid resistant or impermeable), eye protection (goggles or face shield), and a facemask with additional PPE (such as double gloves, leg covers, shoe covers, etc.) when caring for a patient with severe vomiting, diarrhea or bleeding. • The CDC updated recommendations on October 15 to standardize PPE, including use of a “full body suit.” • Norton Healthcare is updating PPE protocols to include all equipment recommended by CDC and will educate health care providers to use the equipment safely. • Airborne isolation precautions (such as the use of an N-95 mask) is only required for aerosol-generating procedures. Examples of aerosol-generating procedures include: BiPaP, sputum induction, bronchoscopy, intubation, extubation and open suctioning.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 10:32:24 +0000
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