What CDC wears in a Biosafety Level 4 Lab (with Ebola).

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Specializes in RN CRRN.

It isn't Droplet Precautions that is for sure. No skin is exposed. They wear a positive pressure suit. Google the words "Biocontainment level 4." A CDC link will come up (among others - ignore those) in your search. They explain precautions for the 4 different levels of pathogen biosafety, or see link at bottom (if it is allowed).

See? Droplet precautions is NOT enough, and that comes directly from the CDC website itself (but isn't mentioned in their dedicated Ebola section)! We can do this! The nurses in Dallas didn't work with ebola in a controlled environment like a lab. It sounds like it was much more 'active' so better PPE is crucial, yes?

I think it is up to us to speak up and stop the whole "Droplet PPE is enough." Wish the scientists with CDC would speak up for us too, they know what they wear. We should have the same - or at least hazmat and respirator, and no exposed skin. A shower even.

We need this to be airborne precautions (I know it isn't airborne and probably won't ever be). The CDC could even call it "Level 4 Precautions" if anything, since it isn't technically airborne, but it is virulent. I still hear hospitals are going with the CDC Droplet Precautions because that is how it is spread, and we keep hearing those golden words, but... "those are the current CDC recommendations for a droplet transmission pathogen." Sure, but it is a level 4 pathogen, that makes CDC scientists use Airborne precautions. Virulency is a factor, more than route of transmission with Ebola. Google it and share with your coworkers ("biocontainment level 4). We have to be our own advocates. The CDC sure hasn't been...

http://www.cdc.gov/TRAINING/QUICKLEARNS/BIOSAFETY/

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Specializes in RN, CHPN.

Finally, the CDC has updated their PPE recommendations for Ebola, and they're more in line with reality:

"health workers should wear double gloves, waterproof boot covers that go up to the mid-calf, a single-use gown that extends down to mid-calf and a respirator such as an N95 respirator or a powered air-purifying respirator. Workers treating patients with vomiting or diarrhea should also wear waterproof aprons."

CDC issues new rules for protecting workers from Ebola

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