Preparing for bioterrorism

Peggy Lathrop, RN, BSN, CIC, and Linda M. Mann, PhD, D(ABMM)

CME, Part 1 of 3

Target audience: All physicians

Learning objectives:

1. Identify governmental initiatives to prepare for bioterrorism.
2. Describe characteristics of anthrax, botulism, plague, and smallpox and the precautions to be used when dealing with patients who have been exposed to these agents.
3. List several clinical situations in which the health care provider should have a high degree of suspicion for bioterrorism.
4. Know how to respond to 3 scenarios of bioterrorist attack: the hoax, the massive attack, and the small or covert attack.

Faculty credentials/disclosure:

Ms. Lathrop recently retired from the Department of Epidemiology at Baylor University Medical Center and participated in the bioterrorism task force of the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. Dr. Mann is responsible for laboratory bioterrorism responsiveness within the Department of Pathology at Baylor University Medical Center. The authors have no significant financial relationships to disclose and do not address off-label or unapproved uses of any drugs.

Before beginning this activity, download the CME instructions (.PDF file). This document also provides important information on method of physician participation, estimated time to complete the educational activity, medium used for instruction, date of release, and expiration. The quiz, evaluation form, and certification appear on this document as well. Answers to the quiz questions are available.

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