Office of Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Guidelines for Emergency Medical Service Personnel Regarding Care and Transport of Patients with Suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) The CDC is continuing to monitor the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa. Early symptomatic recognition and reporting are critical to infection control. EMS providers should determine the following upon arrival: Does patient have fever (subjective or ≥ 101.5˚ F) OR compatible EVD symptoms such as headache, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, pain, diarrhea, abdominal pain or hemorrhage? AND within the 21 days before illness onset, Has the patient traveled to an Ebola-affected area OR had contact with blood or other body fluids of a patient known to have, or suspected to have, Ebola OR had direct contact or direct handling of bats, rodents, or non-human primates from a diseaseendemic area? Since Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected symptomatic person, the presence of any of these criteria bring the following recommendations: • • • • Isolate the patient: Patients should be separated from other individuals as much as possible (e.g., in the back of the ambulance with the door closed). Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE): Standard, contact and droplet precautions should be implemented. Health care providers entering into contact with the patient should wear gloves, gown (impermeable), eye protection (goggles or face shield), and a facemask prior to coming into contact with the patient. Additional PPE may be required in certain situations (e.g., copious amounts of blood, other body fluids, vomit, or feces present in the environment). In these cases, double gloving, disposable shoe covers, and leg coverings are recommended. After use, PPE should be carefully removed without contaminating one’s eyes, mucous membranes, or clothing with potentially infectious materials. Used PPE should be placed into a medical waste container at the hospital or double bagged and held in a secure location. Patient care equipment: Dedicated medical equipment (preferably disposable) should be used for the provision of patient care. All non-dedicated, nondisposable medical equipment used for patient care should be cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer's instructions before subsequent use. Patient care considerations: Use caution when approaching a patient with Ebola. Illness can cause delirium with erratic behavior that can place EMS personnel at risk of infection (e.g., flailing or staggering). Limit procedures to OEMS Ebola Guidance 10-8-14 Page 1 • • • • • only those that are absolutely necessary prior to arrival at the hospital (e.g., limit the use of needles and minimize procedures as safely as possible). Hand hygiene should be performed frequently, including before and after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious material and before putting on and upon removal of PPE, including gloves. Hospital Notification: EMS staff should notify the receiving healthcare facility in advance when they are bringing a patient with suspected Ebola, so that proper infection control precautions can be taken. Patient transport into hospital: Movement of suspected Ebola patients into hospital or healthcare facilities should be restricted to entrances away from public waiting areas. Suspect cases should not be moved through or temporarily left in waiting rooms. Avoid aerosol-generating procedures: If performing these procedures, PPE should include respiratory protection (N95 or higher filtering face piece respirator). Examples of these procedures include airway management, suctioning, inhaled nebulizer treatments, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If necessary, these procedures should be performed in a stationary vehicle or in a receiving hospital to minimize risk to the EMS provider from a moving vehicle. Implement environmental infection control measures: Diligent environmental cleaning and disinfection and safe handling of potentially contaminated materials is of paramount importance, as blood, sweat, vomit, feces, urine and other body secretions represent potentially infectious materials. All surfaces in the patient care area must be cleaned and disinfected after transport. Persons performing environmental cleaning and disinfection should wear recommended PPE (described above). Follow standard procedures, per manufacturers' instructions, for cleaning and/or disinfection of environmental surfaces and equipment. EPA-registered hospital disinfectants with a label claim for one of the non-enveloped viruses (e.g., norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, poliovirus) to disinfect environmental surfaces may be used. Disinfectant should be available in spray bottles or as commercially prepared wipes for use during transport Alternately, a 1:50 dilution of household bleach that is prepared fresh daily can be used to disinfect environmental surfaces. A 1:10 dilution of household bleach that is prepared fresh daily can be used to treat spills before covering with an absorbent material and wiping up. After bulk waste is wiped up, the surface should be disinfected as described above. Post-exposure guidance: EMS personnel who are exposed to blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or excretions from a patient with suspected or confirmed Ebola should immediately wash the affected skin surfaces with soap and water. Mucous membranes should be irrigated with a large amount of water or eyewash solution. OEMS Ebola Guidance 10-8-14 Page 2 Reporting Reminder for EMS Providers: As a reminder, confirmed or suspect cases of any viral hemorrhagic fever, including EVD, must be reported immediately to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). . Complete the ADPH Ebola Virus Disease Consultation Record and call ADPH at 1-800338-8374. If possible, submit the completed form via fax to 1-334-206-3734 or email to cdfax@adph.state.al.us. Additional Resources: Alabama Department of Public Health: www.adph.org/ebola Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html Detailed Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Checklist for Ebola Preparedness: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/ems-checklist-ebola-preparedness.pdf Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for Management of Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Disease in the United States: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/interimguidance-emergency-medical-services-systems-911-public-safety-answering-pointsmanagement-patients-known-suspected-united-states.html Interim Guidance for Environmental Infection Control in Hospitals for Ebola Virus: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/environmental-infection-control-in-hospitals.html OEMS Ebola Guidance 10-8-14 Page 3