Biological Terrorism

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks and the subsequent mail-borne anthrax attack of October 2001, it has become dear that health care providers may be called upon to respond to victims of terrorism. Biological terrorism (BT), in particular, involves the use of virulent agents with the intent to cause mass casualties and/or induce fear, a scenario that if effected will severely strain the capacity of regional emergency medical services and pose unique management challenges to clinicians confronted with victimized children. Whether practicing as a pediatric emergency medicine specialist working in an urban children's hospital or as a general clinician in private office-based practice, pediatricians may be the first to suspect that a BT agent may have been utilized. Compared to adults, most caregivers have a relatively low threshold for having children and infants evaluated professionally when they become sick. Furthermore, pediatric patients may have a more rapid or severe response to a biological agent, potentially putting pediatricians and child care providers in the critical position of being the first to diagnose an exposure. The clinician's response to such a situation may determine whether the incident is controlled promptly or whether it evolves into a large-scale epidemiologic catastrophe

Diagnosis and management of foodborne illnesses: a primer for physicians

"This primer is directed to primary care physicians, who are more likely to see the index case of a potential food-related disease outbreak. It is a teaching tool to update primary care physicians about foodborne illness and remind them of their important role in recognizing suspicious symptoms, disease clusters, and etiologic agents, and reporting cases of foodborne illness to public health authorities."American Medical Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration; Food Safety and Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture.11214980Infectious DiseaseDiagnosisTreatment and InterventionSupersede

Full Issue: Volume 2, Number 1 Spring 2009

Complete .pdf file of Volume 2, Number 1 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences published Spring 2009

2019 Graduate Medical Education Research Day Compendium

Anyone engaged in research knows that the process can be daunting. Add the rigors of training in a graduate medical education program to this, and it might seem all but impossible to accomplish anything meaningful. However, the individuals highlighted in our 2019 Graduate Medical Education Research Day Compendium were able to overcome those odds. Their abstracts are showcased here and their efforts to advance the collective knowledge in their respective fields are commendable. We thank these Resident and Fellow Physicians and all who have supported them in their endeavors to reach this point with their research. Most of all, we encourage their great work to continue in the spirit of intellectual curiosity that will lead everyone into a better tomorrow

Bioterrorism

This book consists of nine chapters, written by international authorities, discussing various aspects of bioterrorism preparedness and response. Five of the chapters are agent-specific and highlight the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment, and the potential of specific organisms (Rickettsia and Yersinia pestis) or toxins (ricin, botulinum neurotoxins, and staphylococcal enterotoxins) to be used for nefarious purposes. Four chapters discuss different aspects of detecting and responding to a bioterrorism attack. These include methods for spatio-temporal disease surveillance, international laboratory response strategies, detection of botulinum neurotoxins in food and other matrices, and the use of physical methods (ie Raman spectroscopy) to detect spores

Diagnosis and management of foodborne illnesses a primer for physicians and other health care professionals

Introduction and clinical considerations -- Foodborne illnesses table: bacterial agents -- Foodborne illnesses table: viral agents -- Foodborne illnesses table: parasitic agents -- Foodborne illnesses table: non-infectious agents -- Patient scenario: antibiotic-resistant salmonellosis -- Patient scenario: botulism poisoning -- Patient scenario: congenital toxoplasmosis -- Patient scenario: Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection -- Patient scenario: enterotoxic Escherichia coli infection -- Patient scenario: hepatitis A infection -- Patient scenario: Listeria monocytogenes infection -- Patient scenario: norovirus infection -- Patient scenario: unexplained illness -- Clinical vignettes: what's your call? -- Reproducible patient handout: fight BAC! -- Suggested food safety resources and reading list -- Continuing medical education: questions -- Continuing medical education: answer sheet -- Program evaluation form.produced collaboratively by the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, Food Safety and Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture.An earlier edition of this Primer, covering different foodborne illnesses, was published in MMWR in 2001 (MMWR 2001;50[No. RR-2]) and also as a separate publication by the American Medical Association, CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This report updates and supplements the previous edition. It is being reprinted here as a courtesy to the collaborating agencies and the MMWR readers.Also published as: MMWR Recomm Rep. 2004 Apr 16;53(RR-4):1-33.Infectious DiseaseDiagnosisTreatment and InterventionCurrentEBeltrami/Jennifer Wrightno validation date1512398

The EPI Manual: Guide to surveillance, investigations, and reporting, January 2014

A reference for all health care providers at the time of a suspected case, a particular disease or condition, or at the time of an outbreak of a communicable disease to institute public health prevention and control measures

Biological Threats: A Practical Assessment for the Occupational Health Department

Bioterrorism is a term that every person has had to come to grips with since the events of September 11, 2001. Industry has also had to take a hard look at how to be prepared for this new threat. The occupational and environmental health nurse (OEHN) has a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between the concerns of industry ~nd the community. The OEHN must have an in-depth knowledge of the top five biological agents that may be used in a terrorist attack and an explicit understanding of the occupational and environmental health nurse's roles and responsibilities. Beginning in January 2003, an assessment tool was developed to assess a large semiconductor company's occupational health department's preparedness in three major geographical regions. This tool, using the System's Theory (Rogers, 1994), thoroughly assessed the factors influencing the occupational health department. The results are the first step in understanding where improvements are needed so industry can be better prepared in the event of a bioterrorist attack.Master of Public Healt