title: Biological terrorism.
abstract: A biological terrorism event could have a large impact on the general population and health care system. The impact of an infectious disaster will most likely be great to emergency departments, and the collaboration between emergency and infectious disease specialists will be critical in developing an effective response. A bioterrorism event is a disaster that requires specific preparations beyond the usual medical disaster planning. An effective response would include attention to infection control issues and plans for large-scale vaccination or antimicrobial prophylaxis. This article addresses some general issues related to preparing an effective response to a biological terrorism event. It will also review organisms and toxins that could be used in biological terrorism, including clinical features, management, diagnostic testing, and infection control.
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. gmoran@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Talan
authors.forename: Fredrick M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Abrahamian
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000145:classification; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D012327:RNA Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents