Designing a biocontainment unit to care for patients with serious communicable diseases: a consensus statement.
In spite of great advances in medicine, serious communicable diseases are a significant threat. Hospitals must be prepared to deal with patients who are infected with pathogens introduced by a bioterrorist act (e.g., smallpox), by a global emerging infectious disease (e.g., avian influenza, viral hemorrhagic fevers), or by a laboratory accident. One approach to hazardous infectious diseases in the hospital setting is a biocontainment patient care unit (BPCU). This article represents the consensus recommendations from a conference of civilian and military professionals involved in the various aspects of BPCUs. The role of these units in overall U.S. preparedness efforts is discussed. Technical issues, including medical care issues (e.g., diagnostic services, unit access); infection control issues (e.g., disinfection, personal protective equipment); facility design, structure, and construction features; and psychosocial and ethical issues, are summarized and addressed in detail in an appendix. The consensus recommendations are presented to standardize the planning, design, construction, and operation of BPCUs as one element of the U.S. preparedness effort.
Smith
Philip W
PW
Biocontainment Unit, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5400, USA. pwsmith@unmc.edu
Anderson
Arthur O
AO
Christopher
George W
GW
Cieslak
Theodore J
TJ
Devreede
G J
GJ
Fosdick
Glen A
GA
Greiner
Carl B
CB
Hauser
John M
JM
Hinrichs
Steven H
SH
Huebner
Kermit D
KD
Iwen
Peter C
PC
Jourdan
Dawn R
DR
Kortepeter
Mark G
MG
Landon
V Paul
VP
Lenaghan
Patricia A
PA
Leopold
Robert E
RE
Marklund
Leroy A
LA
Martin
James W
JW
Medcalf
Sharon J
SJ
Mussack
Robert J
RJ
Neal
Randall H
RH
Ribner
Bruce S
BS
Richmond
Jonathan Y
JY
Rogge
Chuck
C
Daly
Leo A
LA
Roselle
Gary A
GA
Rupp
Mark E
ME
Sambol
Anthony R
AR
Schaefer
Joann E
JE
Sibley
John
J
Streifel
Andrew J
AJ
Essen
Susanna G Von
SG
Warfield
Kelly L
KL
D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000635:transmission; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States