Ebola Virus Disease – Healthcare Workers

Healthcare Workers

CDC has developed guidance for:

• Healthcare workers
• Deployed Ebola responders
• Laboratory workers
• Emergency medical service workers
• Air medical transport workers
• Funeral and mortuary workers

Standard, contact, and droplet precautions, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), are recommended for management of hospitalized patients with known or suspected Ebola. Healthcare workers are advised to be alert for signs and symptoms of Ebola in symptomatic patients who have travelled within 21 days to countries where the outbreak is occurring.

Laboratory workers and other healthcare personnel who collect or handle infectious specimens should follow established procedures that match the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standardexternal icon, which includes guidance on handling blood and other potentially infectious materials.

For current information for healthcare workers, visit the CDC Ebola Healthcare Workers webpage.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Healthcare Workers

Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment To Be Used By Healthcare Workers during Management of Patients with Confirmed Ebola or Persons under Investigation for Ebola who are Clinically Unstable or Have Bleeding, Vomiting, or Diarrhea in U.S. Hospitals, Including Procedures for Donning and Doffing PPE

For U.S. Healthcare Settings: Donning and Doffing Personal Protective Equipment for Evaluating Persons Under Investigation for Ebola Who Are Clinically Stable and Do Not Have Bleeding, Vomiting, or Diarrhea

Ebola Personal Protective Equipment Frequently Asked Questions

Considerations for Selecting Protective Clothing used in Healthcare for Protection against Microorganisms in Blood and Body Fluids

OSHA Fact Sheet: PPE Selection Matrix for Occupational Exposure to Ebola Viruspdf iconexternal icon

Considerations for U.S Healthcare Facilities to Ensure Adequate Supplies of PPE for Ebola Preparedness

Respiratory Protection Resources

Video: Respiratory Protection for Ebola

Personal Protective Equipment Training: Donning and Doffing Procedures

Medscape Ebola video: Donning and Doffing of Personal Protective Equipmentexternal icon

NIOSH Science Blog, Fighting Ebola: A Grand Challenge for Development – How NIOSH is Helping Design Improved Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers

Healthcare Workers

CDC Guidance

Ambulatory Care Evaluation of Patientspdf icon

Emergency Department Evaluation and Management of Patients

Screening and Caring for Pregnant Women

Infection Prevention and Control

Personal Protective Equipment

Specimen Collection, Transport, Testing, and Submission

Environmental Infection Control

Safely Performing Acute Hemodialysis

Safe Handling of Human Remains

Medical Waste Management

• Procedures for Safe Waste Handling and Management

Survivability of the Ebola Virus in Medical Waste

Monitoring and Movement Guidance

• Questions and Answers

Additional Resources

OSHA/NIOSH/EPA Fact Sheet: Safe Handling, Treatment, Transport and Disposal of Ebola-Contaminated Wastepdf iconexternal icon

Think Ebolapdf icon

When Caring for Suspect or Confirmed Patients with Ebola

Checklist for Healthcare Coalitions for Ebola Preparednesspdf icon

Cal/OSHA Interim Guidance on Ebola Virus in Inpatient Hospital Settingspdf iconexternal icon

Deployed Ebola Responders

NIOSH-OSHA Fact Sheet: Preventing Worker Fatigue Among Ebola Healthcare Workers and Responderspdf icon

Interim NIOSH Training for Emergency Responders: Reducing Risks Associated with Long Work Hours

NIOSH Factsheet: The Buddy Systempdf icon

CDC Safety Training Course for Healthcare Workers Going to West Africa in Response to the 2014 Ebola Outbreak

Interim Guidance for Healthcare Workers Providing Care in West African Countries Affected by the Ebola Outbreak: Limiting Heat Burden While Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Training Slides: Limiting Heat Burden While Wearing PPEpdf icon
• Poster: Prevent Heat Related Illness – Wearing PPE Increases Your Risk for Heat-related Illnessespdf icon

CDC Non-U.S. Healthcare Settings

Laboratory Workers

Interim Guidance for Specimen Collection, Transport, Testing, and Submission for Patients with Suspected Infection with Ebola Virus Disease

• Factsheet – Visual formatpdf icon
• Packaging and Shipping Clinical Specimens Diagram

Guidance for U.S. Laboratories for Managing and Testing Routine Clinical Specimens When There is a Concern About Ebola Virus Disease

Interim Guidance Regarding Compliance with Select Agent Regulations for Laboratories Handling Patient Specimens that are Known or Suspected to Contain Ebola Virus

Emergency Medical Service Workers

Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for Management of Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Disease in the United States

Algorithm for Emergency Medical Services and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Pointspdf icon

Detailed Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Checklist for Ebola Preparednesspdf icon

Ebola Virus Disease Screening Criteria for EMSpdf icon

Air Medical Transport Workers

Guidance on Air Medical Transport for Patients with Ebola Virus Disease

Funeral and Mortuary Workers

Guidance for Safe Handling of Human Remains of Ebola Patients in U. S. Hospitals and Mortuaries