Key documents
HRSA Bioterrorism Resource listings
Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program (NBHPP) resource listings are available in 20 pages of links that include selected guidelines, training courses, bioterrorism educational materials, literature/ references, hospital surge capacity literature.
National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program (.doc) (320 KB)
Biological Agents JAMA Consensus Documents
The Journal of the American Medical Association has made the series of articles available to the public. Each agent is fully discussed from biology, epidemiology, treatment to infection control. You may download the following listed articles:
CDC Smallpox Guidance Plan
The plan and multiple appendices are available at:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/response-plan/.
Food and Drug Administration Medwatch
The FDA Medwatch published two public health advisories following reports of inhalation and cutaneous cases of anthrax. This site is provides medical product safety alerts on a regular basis; viewers may also subscribe and received announcements directly.
Public Health Advisory: Cipro for inhalational anthrax new comprehensive information page on Cipro and inhalational anthrax. (Posted 10/19/2001)
Public Health Advisory: Doxycycline for anthrax exposure - Treatment guidelines for all routes of Anthrax exposure. (Posted 10/18/2001)
MMWR CDC: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,
October 19, 2001/ 50(41);893-7
Recognition of Illness Associated with the Intentional Release of a Biologic Agent
This report provides guidance for health-care providers and public health personnel about recognizing illnesses or patterns of illness that might be associated with intentional release of biologic agents.
MMWR CDC: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,
October 19, 2001/ 50(41);889-893
Update: Investigation of Anthrax Associated with Intentional Exposure and Interim Public Health Guidelines, October 2001
This report updates the findings of the Florida and New York anthrax case investigations, which indicate that infections were caused by the intentional release of Bacillus anthracis. This report also includes interim guidelines for postexposure prophylaxis for prevention of inhalational anthrax and other information to assist epidemiologists, clinicians, and laboratorians responding to intentional anthrax exposures.
Disinfection and Sterilization
Decontamination of the environment
A useful resource that describes effective cleaning and decontamination appropriate for Anthrax may be found in the Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 17th edition, James Chin MD,MPH Editor, 2000. This book is published by the American Public health Association and ordering information is available at www.apha.org or by calling 202.777.2742.. The chapter on Anthrax that includes a new section on bioterrorism and decontamination is available with permission from the publisher.
Disinfection and sterilization
Recommendations from the Control of Communicable Diseases
Manual, edited by James Chin, include basic cleaning with soap
and water and disinfection of potentially contaminated surfaces with
diluted (1:10) bleach. Other tuberculocidal and sporocidal agents
may be appropriate for specific circumstances. General guidance may
be found in the comprehensive APIC guideline for selection and
use of disinfectants. American Journal of Infection Control
1996;24:313-42. by William A Rutala. The document may be found at
http://www.apic.org
or downloaded here.
Disinfection and Sterilization of Medical Equipment
A customer letter from Martin S Favero PhD, Advance Sterilization Procedures, Johnson& Johnson, responds to sterilization procedures in terms of equipment and effective technologies. Download here.
Handling Suspicious Mail
CDC Health Advisories featuring recommended procedures for handling anthrax and other biological agent threats and incidents.
CDC Health Advisory on handling suspicious mail, October 27, 2001
CDC Health Advisory: How to handle anthrax and other biological agent threats
For more information visit http://www.bt.cdc.gov
US Postal Service provides guidelines on handling mail.
The Public Health Response to Biological and Chemical Terrorism:
Interim Planning Guidance for State Public Health Officials
U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 2001.
Bioterrorism Readiness Plan: A Template for Healthcare Facilities
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) recognizes the importance of awareness and preparation for bioterrorism on the part of healthcare facilities. Developed in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this template facilitates the preparation of bioterrorism readiness plans for individual institutions.
Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook:
The "Bad Bug Book"
This handbook from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition provides basic facts regarding foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins. It brings together in one place information from the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, and the National Institutes of Health.
Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook ("The Blue Book")
Fourth Edition, February 2001
A concise guide to medical prophylaxis and management of biological
casualties. Designed as a
quick reference and overview for medical personnel, it is not
intended to be a definitive text on the medical management of
biological casualties.