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Capabilities of global high-level isolation units: A pre-workshop survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2021

Jocelyn J. Herstein*
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Timo Wolf
Affiliation:
University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Emanuele Nicastri
Affiliation:
National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Yee Sin Leo
Affiliation:
National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore
Poh Lian Lim
Affiliation:
National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore
Michael Jacobs
Affiliation:
Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
Sharon Vanairsdale
Affiliation:
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Eric Toner
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Matthew P. Shearer
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Angela Vasa
Affiliation:
Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Vikram Mukherjee
Affiliation:
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, New York City, New York, United States
Andrea Echeverri
Affiliation:
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, New York City, New York, United States
Erica S. Shenoy
Affiliation:
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
John J. Lowe
Affiliation:
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
*
Author for correspondence: Jocelyn J. Herstein, E-mail: jocelyn.herstein@unmc.edu

Abstract

Objective:

To assess experience, physical infrastructure, and capabilities of high-level isolation units (HLIUs) planning to participate in a 2018 global HLIU workshop hosted by the US National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC).

Design:

An electronic survey elicited information on general HLIU organization, operating costs, staffing models, and infection control protocols of select global units.

Setting and participants:

The survey was distributed to site representatives of 22 HLIUs located in the United States, Europe, and Asia; 19 (86%) responded.

Methods:

Data were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results:

The mean annual reported budget for the 19 responding units was US$484,615. Most (89%) had treated a suspected or confirmed case of a high-consequence infectious disease. Reported composition of trained teams included a broad range of clinical and nonclinical roles. The mean number of HLIU beds was 6.37 (median, 4; range, 2–20) for adults and 4.23 (median, 2; range, 1–10) for children; however, capacity was dependent on pathogen.

Conclusions:

Responding HLIUs represent some of the most experienced HLIUs in the world. Variation in reported unit infrastructure, capabilities, and procedures demonstrate the variety of HLIU approaches. A number of technical questions unique to HLIUs remain unanswered related to physical design, infection prevention and control procedures, and staffing and training. These key areas represent potential focal points for future evidence and practice guidelines. These data are important considerations for hospitals considering the design and development of HLIUs, and there is a need for continued global HLIU collaboration to define best practices.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

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Footnotes

a

Senior authors of equal contribution.

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