Dear all
Scarborough had it's first suspect "white dust" episode last wednesday about
2 hours after I completed the protocols to deal with such an event.
The scenarios we identified are:
1)person brings packet to A&E. Result contaminated reception, waiting room and
staff. Action Keep calm, Isolate, decontaminate and get the guys in suits to
take it away. Also swab and start cipro.
2)Person turns up with dust on them from a contamination site. Result limited
contamination only but manage the panic in the waiting room
3)Sick toxic patient, ? bioterrorist patient? Action: normal personal protection
including mask and dont spill the fluids
4) Decontaminated patient Action treat as normal, do we start cipro, depends
on local policy under the guidance of region, if they have thought it out.
5) Telephone calls: refer to NHS direct to give a consistent message
We had scenario 4 with angina!
The dust was benign
Don't forget to have a method of getting the cipro back if it is not needed.
Andy Volans
>Well, I guess it was bound to happen...
>
>Has anyone yet, outside the USA (UK/OZ/NZ/etc.), had any dealings with the
>Anthrax issue yet? Just yesterday, found myself with it as a plausible
>differential for the first time. Still awaiting final results.
>
>Have had one prior "public relations scare" with a DHL office here calling
>in the police when one team was "exposed" to white powder which spilled out
>of a box being processed. Quite a bit of panic and about 27 people swabbed
>before it came out that this was a fine, floury, white powder, not similar
>even in characteristics to an Anthrax source. Latest news is that it WAS a
>"clandestine" powder, but for recreational use... Someone's investment down
>the drain...
>
>I cannot describe the actual case, as I have not had patient's approval for
>this, but the sputum sample does contain a few large Gram +ve Bacilli but
>also "misxed organisms". Suspected mainly Pneumococcus, but, if it is
>Anthrax, it will show up by today in its culture morphology, but no-one is
>holding their breath with excitement.
>
>Anyone with other experiences?
>
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