[thrump]

I'm more concerned that a BSN educated nurse is now ill, because I know she has been educated regarding precautions at a significantly higher level than the nursing assistant in Spain must have been. I wonder if we'll find out what the specific break in protocol was, or if it is unknown.

It seems like exposure likely occurred while removing the PPE. Nurses are taught in which order to remove these items, but its still a very dangerous point in time from an exposure standpoint.

It does seem as if nurses are stating they do not feel as if there is enough being discussed within their hospitals. I hope that differs in the ER dept. In a med-surg dept we haven't gotten much past "we have a plan" and basic discussion on which types of precautions would be followed.

I keep reading in various links about BSL levels and how Ebola is BSL-4, suits, tape, omg, etc. This isn't all that applicable from a direct health care perspective, its a microbiology classification. Ebola is level 4 because it is lethal and exotic and can be aerosolized, with no treatment or vaccine. Yes, this means there are few labs suited to handle the virus and the precautions are lengthy. This doesn't mean the same setup microbiologists use when studying Ebola in the lab are necessary in a patient care scenario -- that's where routes of transmission come in. Reading a lot of freaking out over wrist tape between gowns and gloves, etc. Two different scenarios.