title: Use of multiplex PCR to rapidly diagnose febrile patients during a gastroenteritis outbreak among Ebola virus treatment unit workers.
abstract: Multiplex PCR can provide rapid diagnosis for patients presenting with an acute undifferentiated febrile illness. Such technology is useful in deployed settings, where access to conventional microbiological diagnosis is limited. It was used in Sierra Leone to guide management of febrile healthcare workers, in whom Ebola virus disease was a possible cause. In particular, it informed appropriate antibiotic treatment while minimising the risk to clinicians of exposure to the causative organism.
authors.affiliation: British Army-Medical Centre, Kinloss Barracks 39 Royal Engineers, Forres, Morayshire, UK.
authors.forename: Tom O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Defence Pathology, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fominyam
authors.affiliation: Defence Pathology, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: M S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4840-5093
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Defence Pathology, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hutley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006282:Health Personnel; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
keywords: Ebola; Gastroenteritis; PCR; diarrhoea; e.coli; military