Evaluation of infection control practices during an AE

The broadening global commitment of UK military personnel since the end of the Cold War has brought them into contact with a plethora of tropical diseases, some of which require isolation and air transfer to a UK medical facility. This presents a number of challenges to the safe repatriation of patients and attending medical and flight crews. During a recent repatriation of a patient with suspected Lassa fever from West Africa, the team's practices were evaluated and recommendations were made for improvements to future transfers by the deployable air isolator team. Valuable lessons were learned by the team, most notably the need to practice safe isolation procedures in a real working environment. In addition, the team should work on exercises together, thus aiding cohesion prior to deployment.