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The Threat of Secondary Chemical Contamination of Emergency Departments and Personnel: An Uncommon, but Still Occurring Problem
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Nov 10 2015
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Source: Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 10(2):199-202.
[PDF-53.40 KB]
Details:
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Alternative Title:Disaster Med Public Health Prep
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Personal Author:
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Description:Objective
To analyze hazardous substance release surveillance data for events involving secondary contamination of hospital emergency departments (EDs). Secondary contamination of EDs may occur when a patient, exposed to a hazardous chemical, is not decontaminated before arrival at the ED and when ED staff is not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. This can result in adverse health outcomes among department personnel, other patients, and visitors. Even events without actual secondary contamination risk can be real in their consequences and require the decontamination of the ED and/or its occupants, evacuation, or temporary ED shut-down.
Methods
Events involving secondary contamination were identified using the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance system and the National Toxic Substances Incidence Program during 2007–2013.
Results
Five incidents involving involved the threat of secondary contamination (0.02% of all events reported to the surveillance systems [n=33,001]) were detected and are described. Four incidents involved suspected secondary contamination in which the facility was evacuated or shut down.
Conclusions
These results suggest that while rare, incidents involving secondary contamination continue to present a hazard for emergency departments. Suggested best practices to avoid secondary contamination have been described. Hospitals should be made aware of the risks associated with secondary contamination and the need to proactively train and equip staff to perform decontamination.
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Pubmed ID:26554546
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC5712456
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Volume:10
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Issue:2
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