Title: Cross-contamination issues during a biological emergency response effort: lessons learned

Authors: John L. McKernan, Lauralynn Taylor, Jane B. McCammon, Richard W. Hartle, Michael G. Gressel

Addresses: United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. ' United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. ' United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. ' United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. ' United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA

Abstract: Response Team investigators from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), recognised the potential for Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) cross-contamination during recent emergency response activities in the Capitol area. The three case studies presented offer the opportunity to examine procedural response practices related to bioterrorism events, and consider the ||lessons learned||. An examination of the actions, practices and environmental sampling results from the Capitol response effort compelled investigators to develop six recommendations that, if implemented, should reduce the potential for cross-contamination in future national and international emergency response activities.

Keywords: biological emergency response; emergency response; cross-contamination; Bacillus anthracis; anthrax; lessons learned.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2003.004358

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2003 Vol.1 No.4, pp.363 - 373

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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