What are guidelines when caring for patients with Ebola?

Isolate

• Isolate the patient in a private room with a private bathroom or covered, bedside commode and close the door.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Limit the healthcare personnel who enter the room.
• Keep a log of everyone who enters and leaves the patient’s room.

What is the first step in identifying a patient possibly infected with EVD?

Staff members should use this information to follow the 3 steps within the “Identify, Isolate, and Inform” strategy. CDC recommends that staff members screen all patients with travel histories, exposure, or clinical symptoms that might suggest the person could have EVD.

When should you suspect Ebola?

Suspected Ebola or Marburg cases for routine surveillance: Illness with onset of fever and no response to treatment for usual causes of fever in the area, and at least one of the following signs: bloody diarrhoea, bleeding from gums, bleeding into skin (purpura), bleeding into eyes and urine.

What are the determinants of Ebola?

Although observed modes of transmission mainly include direct contact and contaminated staff, high case fatality ratio and frequent contacts among individuals in developed countries are among determinants which may lead to the development of the EVD outbreak.

What type of isolation is needed for Ebola?

Use transmission-based precautions appropriate for Ebola virus (i.e., based on each worker’s job tasks and exposure risk, typically a combination of contact and droplet precautions with airborne precautions for aerosol-generating procedures).

What is the primary base for PPE for Ebola?

For all healthcare workers caring for patients with Ebola, PPE that fully covers skin and clothing and prevents any exposure of the eyes, nose, and mouth is recommended to reduce the risk of accidental self-contamination of mucous membranes or broken skin.

How your office should handle a patient who presents with a low grade fever and recent travel to West Africa?

If a febrile patient has already presented in your office, have your staff obtain a travel and exposure history. If Ebola or MERS-CoV is possible:

• Immediately isolate the patient as best as you can.
• If you have a mask, have the patient put it on.
• Have the patient perform hand hygiene with an alcohol-based product.

How long can Ebola live on surfaces?

Ebola virus can survive on dry surfaces, like doorknobs and countertops for several hours; in body fluids like blood, the virus can survive up to several days at room temperature. Cleaning and disinfection should be performed using a hospital-grade disinfectant.

Who should be contacted regarding a suspected case of Ebola?

2. Inform. Notify your facility’s Infection Prevention and Control Program and other healthcare personnel of a suspected EVD case. Contact the local or state health department for consultation about testing for EVD.

How do I report a case of Ebola?

Immediately report all cases, potential cases and exposed persons to CDE: 1-877- 539-4344 or 206-418-5500.

How is Ebola diagnosed?

Ebola virus can be detected in blood after onset of symptoms. It may take up to three days after symptoms start for the virus to reach detectable levels. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most commonly used diagnostic methods because of its ability to detect low levels of Ebola virus.