Deep Dive: Advances in the Care of Infectious Diseases in the ICU-Emerging Special Pathogens

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Kelly Cockett, an Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, provides a primer on emerging special pathogens in her presentation. She defines emerging special pathogens as highly infectious pathogens that can cause severe disease in humans. Dr. Cockett emphasizes the importance of early recognition, optimization of patient care, and implementation of evidence-based strategies for management and ICU preparedness for special pathogens and possible outbreaks.<br /><br />Dr. Cockett discusses the history of pandemics, highlighting key examples such as the plague, cholera, influenza, and more recent outbreaks like SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. She also mentions the rise of biocontainment units and the need for improved biocontainment during pandemics and emerging special pathogens.<br /><br />She explains what biocontainment units are and their importance in treating patients with highly hazardous and communicable diseases. These units are designed to maximize the safety of both patients and healthcare workers. Dr. Cockett also mentions the existence of regional emerging special pathogen treatment centers in the United States.<br /><br />Dr. Cockett emphasizes the need for early recognition of emerging special pathogens, especially in critical care settings. She provides guidance on how to identify these pathogens based on clinical syndromes, epidemiologic history, and the infectivity, communicability, and hazard of the pathogen. She also stresses the importance of appropriate infection control measures, such as isolation and personal protective equipment (PPE), to protect healthcare workers and prevent transmission.<br /><br />The presentation touches on the clinical symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fevers, one type of emerging special pathogens. Dr. Cockett discusses the challenges in providing optimal care for viral hemorrhagic fevers due to the lack of standardized guidelines and varying recommendations for supportive care and therapeutics. She mentions the need for expert care and individualized treatment plans for these patients.<br /><br />Dr. Cockett concludes her presentation by highlighting the importance of incident management, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement in preparedness and response to emerging special pathogens. She also acknowledges the human factors and fear surrounding these pathogens and emphasizes the importance of education, clear communication, and seeking help when needed.<br /><br />Dr. Cockett provides links to resources from the CDC, the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center, and the World Health Organization for further information and education on emerging special pathogens.

Asset Caption

Kelly Cawcutt

Keywords

Emerging Special Pathogens

Patient Care

ICU Preparedness

Biocontainment Units

Infection Control Measures

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

Supportive Care

Incident Management

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