The utility and sustainability of US Ebola treatment centers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

Jocelyn J. Herstein, Paul D. Biddinger, Shawn G. Gibbs, Angela L. Hewlett, Aurora B. Le, Michelle M. Schwedhelm, John J. Lowe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: In response to the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designated 56 US hospitals as Ebola treatment centers (ETCs) with high-level isolation capabilities. We sought to determine the ongoing sustainability of ETCs and to identify how ETC capabilities have affected hospital, local, and regional coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) readiness and response. Design: An electronic survey included both qualitative and quantitative questions and was structured into 2 sections: operational sustainability and role in the COVID-19 response. Setting and participants: The survey was distributed to site representatives from the 56 originally designated ETCs, and 37 (66%) responded. Methods: Data were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Of the 37 responding ETCs, 33 (89%) reported that they were still operating, and 4 had decommissioned. ETCs that maintain high-level isolation capabilities incurred a mean of $234,367 in expenses per year. All but 1 ETC reported that existing capabilities (eg, trained staff, infrastructure) before COVID-19 positively affected their hospital, local, and regional COVID-19 readiness and response (eg, ETC trained staff, donated supplies, and shared developed protocols). Conclusions: Existing high-level isolation capabilities and expertise developed following the 2014-2016 EVD epidemic were leveraged by ETCs to assist hospital-wide readiness for COVID-19 and to support responses by other local and regional hospitals However, ETCs face continued challenges in sustaining those capabilities for high-consequence infectious diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)643-650
Number of pages8
JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Volume44
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 22 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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