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EMS Disease Exposure, Transmission, and Prevention: a Review Article
Colton Bitely1, Brian Miller1, Jonathan Glauser1
1Department of Emergency Medicine, MetroHealth Medical System, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109 USA.
Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports
|April 1, 2020
Summary
Pre-hospital providers face disease exposure risks. Consistent hand washing and personal protective equipment use are crucial, preventable measures to minimize transmission despite ongoing challenges with universal precautions and vaccination compliance.
Area of Science:
- Pre-hospital care
- Infection control
- Public health
Background:
- Pre-hospital providers face significant occupational hazards related to disease exposure.
- Minimizing transmission risks to both providers and patients is a critical concern in emergency medical services (EMS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current literature on disease exposure risks for pre-hospital personnel.
- To examine challenges in preventing disease transmission in pre-hospital settings.
- To identify strategies for mitigating exposure risks.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies.
- Analysis of data on provider compliance and vaccination rates.
- Assessment of decontamination techniques.
Main Results:
- Consistent adherence to universal precautions and hand hygiene remains suboptimal.
- Vaccination rates among pre-hospital providers are below optimal levels.
- The emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms necessitates novel decontamination strategies.
Conclusions:
- There is a notable gap in research concerning disease exposure and transmission risks for EMS providers.
- Hand hygiene and consistent use of personal protective equipment are identified as key preventable measures.
- Continued emphasis on basic infection control practices is vital for reducing disease transmission in pre-hospital care.
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