Controlling the exotic diseases: 2. Nursing management

Area of Science:

• Infectious Disease Management
• Hospital Preparedness
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Hospitals often lack specialized facilities for high-security isolation of patients with exotic diseases.
• Existing contingency plans may not adequately address specific medical care needs for such patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify critical areas requiring detailed planning for the care of patients with exotic diseases in non-specialized hospital settings.
• To highlight deficiencies in current national contingency plans regarding medical care for exotic disease patients.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing national health and welfare contingency plans.
• Analysis of requirements for personnel training, selection, and preparation.
• Evaluation of protective clothing and isolation procedures.
• Consideration of facility requirements for isolation suites, including dressing and showering areas.
• Assessment of waste disposal and cleaning protocols.
• Examination of social and psychological support needs for patients and families.

Main Results:

• Current hospital isolation procedures and protective clothing are often inadequate for exotic diseases.
• Specialized clothing, including respirators, is necessary but can impede personnel.
• Comprehensive protocols are needed for personnel entry/exit, waste management, and hygiene.
• Social and psychological aspects of patient and family care require pre-planning.

Conclusions:

• Advance planning is essential to mitigate risks associated with managing patients with exotic diseases in hospitals without high-security isolation.
• Specific protocols for personnel, protective measures, facility design, and waste disposal must be developed.
• Addressing the psychological impact on patients and families is a critical component of preparedness.