Principles and Practices of Establishing a Hospital-Based Ebola Treatment Unit

Peter Kiiza; Neill K J Adhikari; Sarah Mullin; Koren Teo; Robert A Fowler

doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2019.06.011

Principles and Practices of Establishing a Hospital-Based Ebola Treatment Unit

Crit Care Clin. 2019 Oct;35(4):697-710. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2019.06.011.

Authors

Peter Kiiza¹, Neill K J Adhikari², Sarah Mullin¹, Koren Teo³, Robert A Fowler⁴

Affiliations

¹ Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Hospital, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada.
² Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Hospital, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Canadian Forces Health Services Group, Toronto, 10 Yukon Ln, North York, Ontario M3K 0A1, Canada.
⁴ Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Hospital, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: Rob.fowler@sunnybrook.ca.

PMID: 31445614
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2019.06.011

Abstract

Outbreaks of Ebola virus disease and high-risk transmissible infections are increasing and pose threats to health care workers and global health systems. Previous outbreaks offer lessons for health system preparedness and response, including establishment of hospital-based high-risk pathogen treatment units. Their creation demands early preparation and interprofessional coordination; infection prevention and control; case management training; prepositioning of supplies; conversion of existing structures to treatment units; and strengthening communication and research platforms. Hospital-based Ebola and high-risk pathogen treatment units may improve case detection, interrupt transmission, and improve staff safety and patient care.

Keywords: Ebola; Outbreak; Treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Critical Care / methods
Critical Care / organization & administration
Disaster Planning*
Disease Outbreaks
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / diagnosis
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / epidemiology
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / therapy*
Humans
Intensive Care Units / organization & administration*