COVID-19 Response Among US Hospitals with Emerging Special Pathogen Programs

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Management
• Healthcare Preparedness

Background:

• The US Department of Health and Human Services established a tiered hospital network in 2015 for special pathogen care, including Ebola virus disease (EVD).
• The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) was created to enhance healthcare facility capabilities for managing special pathogens.
• This infrastructure aimed to ensure safe and effective patient care during outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utilization of established special pathogen programs by hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To understand how resources and training developed for EVD preparedness were applied to the COVID-19 response.
• To identify challenges and successes in leveraging existing special pathogen infrastructure.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted in August 2020 with 20 hospitals that had received prior NETEC readiness consultations.
• The survey assessed the ways in which hospitals leveraged their special pathogen programs for COVID-19 response.
• Data collected included the use of NETEC resources, isolation spaces, trained staff, supplies, and experiences with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Main Results:

• All surveyed hospitals utilized their special pathogen programs for COVID-19 response, employing NETEC resources, isolation spaces, trained staff, and supplies.
• 95% of facilities experienced PPE shortages, with 80% using special pathogen program PPE for COVID-19 patients.
• 63% of facilities used biocontainment unit staff for training frontline workers during the initial COVID-19 response.

Conclusions:

• Existing special pathogen programs and infrastructure were crucial for effective COVID-19 response, demonstrating their value beyond initial intended uses.
• The findings underscore the importance of sustained investment and planning to maintain readiness for future special pathogen threats, avoiding cyclical preparedness efforts.
• Leveraging specialized staff and resources from established programs is key to mitigating the impact of emerging infectious diseases.