Recommendations for Safe Handling of Human Remains Containing Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs)

Details

• Personal Author:
  Shugart J
• Description:
  Situation/Problem: As a result of multiple patients with Ebola virus disease (Ebola) seeking health care in the U.S. during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) received numerous emails and telephone calls asking how to safely handle human remains contaminated with Ebola. Ebola can be transmitted in postmortem care settings by direct handling of human remains without recommended personal protective equipment (PPE), and through splashes of blood or other body fluids such as urine, saliva, feces, or vomit to unprotected mucosa such as eyes, nose, or mouth during postmortem care. Greater than 50% of all Ebola patients, including healthcare workers, have died. Because Ebola has a high case fatality rate, it is very likely that healthcare and mortuary workers will have to handle human remains. Resolution: A stakeholder workgroup was formed with healthcare and mortuary workers in the private sector, national associations, and federal partners. As a result of a literature review and our combined fatality management experience, it was determined the existing CDC mortuary guidance issued earlier in 2014 needed to be updated. The new guidance provides additional occupational health and safety recommendations for healthcare and mortuary workers when handling human remains and surfaces and equipment used during postmortem care that may be contaminated with Ebola. Results: The workgroup developed "Guidance for Safe Handling of Human Remains of Ebola Patients in U.S. Hospitals and Mortuaries", including a 21 step job aid specifically on the postmortem preparation in a hospital room. NIOSH staff also developed a companion training video "Recommended Postmortem Preparation of Human Remains Containing Ebola Virus". Hospitals across the U.S. are already incorporating these recommendations into their domestic preparedness plans. Lessons learned: The recommendations outlined in our guidance document and training video should be considered for other viral hemorrhagic fevers. For example, our recommendations have been used to safely handle human remains with Lassa fever in the U.S. It is crucial for public health professionals to work closely with their state and local officials and their partners who have agreed to implement these guidelines during the planning, response, and recovery phases. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Body Fluids Communicable Diseases Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety
• Keywords:
  Body Fluids Ebola Virus Disease Infectious Diseases Medical Management Guidelines Patient Handling Personal Protective Equipment PPE
• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Maryland ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  EPRO - Emergency Preparedness and Response Office
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  63-64
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066031
• Citation:
  AIHce 2016: American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition Pathways to Progress, May 21-26, 2016, Baltimore, Maryland. Falls Church, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2016 May; :63-64
• Contact Point Address:
  J. Shugart, CDC/NIOSH, Atlanta, GA
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  AIHce 2016: American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition Pathways to Progress, May 21-26, 2016, Baltimore, Maryland
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:025c79b2a4619797991549cfa62045ff55ef3b2eb3964864c0d9acf851dfec1c929256527d210431ba6abb94834dff2984a5582187bc0b152ef0f0bbabbf33dd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/209115/cdc_209115_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.44 MB ]