Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2025

Safety Precautions and Operating Procedures in an ABSL-4 Laboratory: 2. General Practices
Published on: October 3, 2016
Streamlining Preparedness: A Practical Pathway to Special Pathogens Management
Sarah Irene Brown1,2, Priya Dhagat1, Aishani V Aatresh1,3
1System-Wide Special Pathogens Program, New York City Health and Hospitals, New York, NY 10004, USA.
Abstract:
Managing special pathogens cases, also known as high consequence infectious diseases, presents unique challenges for healthcare systems. It requires thorough planning and comprehensive operational protocols, as well as an appreciation of how human and organizational factors influence readiness. Based on the outcomes from a full-scale Ebola Virus Disease exercise at New York City Health and Hospitals (NYC Health + Hospitals), this paper presents a checklist of considerations to promote healthcare facility preparedness for special pathogens and to minimize gaps between protocol design and real-world implementation. This approach not only strengthens compliance with the new Joint Commission requirements but also provides a replicable framework for enhancing special pathogens preparedness within other healthcare systems.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the...

