On May 15-16, 2019, the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit–in collaboration with the National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC)–hosted a comprehensive workshop on high consequence pathogen preparedness. Approximately 150 individuals from around the country attended, bringing together expertise in critical care, nursing, public health, administration, medical transport and laboratory operations. The two-day workshop featured several(...)
BCU Update
Help Minimize the Measles Outbreak
Posted by | Patient CareOver the past few years, the BCU team has learned the importance of taking a good travel and social history. The current measles outbreak is a great reminder of the importance of asking about our patients’ lives, activities and the places they travel. As of April 19, 2019 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(...)
March Updates
Posted by | Patient CareMarch continues to be busy for the BCU team. The recent Hopkins On Alert quarterly newsletter, through the Johns Hopkins Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR), highlighted some of BCU’s endeavors from congressional visits to the most recent exercise. The newsletter features a myriad of topics related to institutional and personal preparedness activities. Two of(...)
The BCU on Capitol Hill
Posted by | Patient CareThe month of February saw many exciting accomplishments and opportunities for the BCU team. On February 4, The Hill published an op’ed written by BCU Medical Director, Dr. Brian Garibaldi, and BCU Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Maragakis, on the importance of maintaining pandemic preparedness infrastructure as well as strengthening national preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. After(...)
BCU Research Update
Posted by | Patient Care, ResearchOn January 28-31, Chris Sulmonte, project administrator the Biocontainment Unit, will be attending the American Society of Microbiology Biothreats Conference in Arlington, VA. His abstract “Developing a Statewide Education Program to Support a High Consequence Pathogen Preparedness Network” was accepted as both a poster and peer-to-peer presentation. Additionally, an abstract by Mark Romig and Lauren(...)
Celebrating the Holidays
Posted by | Patient CareTo celebrate the holidays, the BCU team threw a party at Urban Axes Baltimore on Saturday, December 15. With 33 attendees, this team building exercise was a huge success and allowed staff members in different functional areas to get to know one another better. With tournaments to test BCU members' axe throwing skills, this was(...)
Tabletop Exercises
Posted by | Patient CareOn October 23, the BCU team hosted a tabletop exercise to discuss the logistics behind transporting and caring for pediatric patients with suspected Lassa fever. In a real-life scenario, a patient transport would require coordination and communication with many of our local and state representatives. We partnered with Frederick Memorial Hospital, a Maryland Special Pathogen(...)
Maryland Department of Health Readiness Program
Posted by | Patient CareOver the summer, the BCU team and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) developed a statewide training and education program aimed at supporting and providing resources to frontline and assessment hospitals throughout the state. As a part of this program, the BCU team will travel to each of the five Special Pathogen Assessment Hospitals (SPAH) in(...)
Operation Limelight
Posted by | Patient CareOn Wednesday, August 29, the BCU team held a short exercise called Operation Limelight for congressional staffers and media outlets. Operation Limelight was a demonstration of several aspects of an activated unit including patient admission via an Isopod, personal protective equipment (PPE) donning and doffing procedures, autoclave operations, laboratory specimen processing and adaptive communication via(...)
Rounding Out the Summer
Posted by | Patient CareThe BCU is rounding out its quarterly validations for the month of August. Twenty-six nurses, eight laboratory technicians, six respiratory therapists, three radiology technicians, 17 providers and 13 infection control personnel completed over 200 total hours of training. One of the more fun training objectives included the annual fire extinguisher training with personnel from the(...)