![]() Ambulance design standards do not require a waterproof seal between the patient compartment and driver cabin. Pressure from chlorine sprayers used in the decontamination process may have pushed body fluids from the patient compartment into the driver cabin through gaps around the wall. Staff responsible for cleaning and disinfection did not thoroughly clean bulk body fluids with disposable towels before disinfection of the patient compartment. The wall separating the patient compartment and driver cabin in many vehicles did not have a waterproof seal around the edges. Many vehicles used by ambulance staff in Sierra Leone were not traditional ambulances, but were pick-up trucks or sport-utility vehicles that had been assembled or modified for patient transport. Ambulance construction and design standards from the National Fire Protection Association, US General Services Administration, and European Committee on Standardization (CEN) were reviewed. Ambulance drivers and other staff were asked to describe their cleaning and decontamination practices. The walls separating the patient compartment and driver cabin in these vehicles were evaluated for structural integrity and potential pathways for body fluid leakage. A convenience sample of 14 vehicles used to transport patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola in Sierra Leone were assessed. An ambulance driver in Sierra Leone attributed his Ebola infection to exposure to body fluids that leaked from the patient compartment to the driver cabin of the ambulance. Vehicles used for patient transport in infectious disease outbreaks should be evaluated for adequate infection prevention and control. Transporting ill persons from the community to Ebola care facilities can stop community spread. Prehospital care, including patient transport, is integral in the patient care process during the Ebola response. ![]() Potential Exposure to Ebola Virus from Body Fluids due to Ambulance Compartment Permeability in Sierra Leone.Ĭasey, Megan L Nguyen, Duong T Idriss, Barrie Bennett, Sarah Dunn, Angela Martin, Stephen
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