title: Preparedness of institutions around the world for managing patients with Ebola virus disease: an infection control readiness checklist.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In response to global concerns about the largest Ebola virus disease (EVD), outbreak to-date in West Africa documented healthcare associated transmission and the risk of global spread, the International Society of Chemotherapy (ISC) Infection Control Working Group created an Ebola Infection Control Readiness Checklist to assess the preparedness of institutions around the globe. We report data from the electronic checklist that was disseminated to medical professionals from October to December 2014 and identify action needed towards better preparedness levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 192 medical professionals (one third from Africa) representing 125 hospitals in 45 countries around the globe were obtained through a specifically developed electronic survey. The survey contained 76 specific questions in 7 major sections: Administrative/operational support; Communications; Education and audit; Human resources, Supplies, Infection Prevention and Control practices and Clinical management of patients. The majority of respondents were infectious disease specialists/infection control consultants/clinical microbiologists (75; 39 %), followed by infection control professionals (59; 31 %) and medical doctors of other specialties (17; 9 %). Nearly all (149; 92 %) were directly involved in Ebola preparedness activities. Whilst, 54 % indicated that their hospital would need to handle suspected and proven Ebola cases, the others would subsequently transfer suspected cases to a specialized centre.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from our survey reveal that the general preparedness levels for management of potentially suspected cases of Ebola virus disease is only partially adequate in hospitals. Hospitals designated for admitting EVD suspected and proven patients had more frequently implemented Infection Control preparedness activities than hospitals that would subsequently transfer potential EVD cases to other centres. Results from this first international survey provide a framework for future efforts to improve hospital preparedness worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Unit, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
authors.forename: Ermira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tartari
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allegranzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Information and Research, Ministry of Health, Valletta, Malta.
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calleja
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit and Microbiology, Canberra Hospital, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collignon
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hopman
authors.affiliation: National Healthcare Groups Polyclinics, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Infection Control, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Lai Chee
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Infection Control, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Moi Lin
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Shaheen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehtar
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tambyah
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voss
keywords: EVD outbreak; EVD preparedness; Ebola virus disease; Personal protective equipment