Development of model infectious disease protocols for fire and EMS personnel.
OBJECTIVE
To develop model infectious disease exposure plans for emergency medical services agencies in King County, Washington.


METHODS
All fire departments in King County, Washington, were surveyed to determine their pathogen exposure policies. After these agencies were surveyed, model response plans were developed for both bloodborne and airborne pathogen exposure.


RESULTS
Twenty-four of the 35 fire departments in King County submitted infectious disease exposure policies. There was diversity among the plans, and not all were deemed able to provide prophylaxis in a timely fashion. Based on this lack of uniformity among response plans, model response plans were developed for bloodborne and airborne infectious disease pathogens.


CONCLUSIONS
Great variety was present throughout the exposure plans currently in use throughout King County, Washington. Model plans would likely universalize response to pathogen exposure and help to ensure prompt and appropriate postexposure prophylaxis.
Miller
Nancy L
NL
School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Gudmestad
Tom
T
Eisenberg
Mickey S
MS
D000391:Air Microbiology; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000592:standards*; D003625:Data Collection; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011292:Premedication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012308:Risk Management; D014481:United States; D014861:Washington