FAQs
Can you share any information about bird (avian) flu activity and transmission to humans?
Avian influenza is circulating heavily around the world. We haven’t seen transmission to humans on a large scale. There have been a few cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI0 […]
Is it recommended that anyone receive two flu vaccines?
Outside of children who are under 6 months and are getting their first series, there is no indication to repeat a second dose within the same flu season.
Are there alternative antibacterial therapeutics for secondary infections like pneumonia that can be used if the shortage of Amoxicillin and Zithromax makes those hard to find?
Look at your facility’s antibiograms to know the susceptibilities of common circulating bacteria and direct your alternative antibacterial choice toward those antibiograms.
Do you recommend isolating patients regardless of their signs or symptoms?
Yes, we recommend that for several reasons. We know with all these viruses that people can be positive and infectious/contagious before they are symptomatic. Sometimes it may take longer to […]
In terms of laboratory waste associated with blood specimen collection, its it important to log specimens collected and to document any wasted blood or unused specimens that were collected?
It is not required, however it is recommended to document every tube (including waste tubes) so that everything is accounted for and does not accidentally get mixed with other laboratory […]
As an assessment center, our medical center has dedicated lab equipment for an Ebola PUI: offer Malaria test, CBC, CMP. Isn’t routine testing with specimens from an Ebola patient going to contaminate routine lab equipments?
Testing on certain larger analyzers is possible, however it would be dependent on your facilities risk assessment. Looking at the workflow, any areas that may be aerosol generating, and the […]
Will there be different recommended order guidelines for obtaining blood cultures in suspected Ebola patients?
The CDC does give recommendations on patient care management, however the ordering guidelines at your facility will be dependent on your care team and their protocols. Discuss with your care […]
If doing routine testing do the machines then need to be decontaminated?
The recommendation would be to clean and disinfect the instrumentation after each patient specimen.
What lab tests do you expect the assessment hospitals to perform versus frontline hospitals?
Contact your public health department to discuss your role. Size of your facility and location in relation to a Treatment Center may determine the testing that is requested. See the […]
Is 30 minutes inactivation sufficient for malaria slides and positive blood culture slides?
Thirty minutes should be sufficient. Here is an article with more info: https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/JCM.02960-15