Admission and Management of Occupational or Other Exposures to Biodefense/Bioterrorism Agents or to Epidemic/Emerging Infectious Diseases

Confirmed Infection Inclusion Criteria:

1. Laboratory diagnosis of infection by a select agent under study in a biodefense research facility, by an agent of bioterrorism, by a naturally-occurring pathogen in the environment, or by an emerging infectious disease agent, whether acute or recovering/convalescent.
2. Clinically stable for transfer to the Clinical Center.

Suspected Infection Inclusion Criteria:

1. One of the following:

   1. Close contact, within a timeframe consistent with the incubation period of an agent under study in a biodefense research facility, with an agent of bioterrorism, with a naturally-occurring pathogen in the environment, with an emerging infectious disease agent, or with a person identified as a confirmed or suspected case of contagious disease.

      • Close contact is defined as having cared for, having lived with, or having direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a patient identified as a suspected case of contagious disease.
      • Other contact of sufficient proximity and duration to incite reasonable concern that transmission of the causative agent of a contagious disease in the above categories may have occurred. This will be determined on an individual basis by the Principal Investigator (PI) or an Associate Investigator (AI) using best medical judgment.

      OR

   2. Penetration of the skin, within a timeframe consistent with the incubation period of a disease agent of concern, by any item with documented or suspected contamination by any agent in the above categories.

      OR

   3. Verified consumption, within a timeframe consistent with the incubation period of a disease agent of concern, of any liquid or solid with documented or suspected contamination by any agent in the categories above, whether accidental or deliberate.

      OR

   4. Verified presence, within a timeframe consistent with the incubation period of a disease agent of concern, in an area with documented or suspected release of any agent in the categories above, whether accidental or deliberate, or with endemic or enzootic foci of any of the agents above.

   AND

2. Clinical findings consistent with infection with an agent in the categories above, whether acute or recovering/convalescent.

   AND

3. Clinically stable for transfer to the Clinical Center.

Confirmed or Suspected Exposure Inclusion Criteria:

1. One of the following:

   1. Close contact, within a timeframe consistent with the incubation period of a select agent under study in a biodefense research facility, with an agent of bioterrorism, with a naturally-occurring pathogen in the environment, with an emerging infectious disease agent, or with a person identified as a confirmed or suspected case of contagious disease.

      • Close contact is defined as having cared for, having lived with, or having direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a patient identified as a confirmed or suspected case of contagious disease.
      • Other contact of sufficient proximity and duration to incite reasonable concern that transmission of the causative agent of a contagious disease in the above categories may have occurred. This will be determined on an individual basis by the PI or an AI using best medical judgment.

      OR

   2. Penetration of the skin, within a timeframe consistent with the incubation period of a disease agent of concern, by any item with documented or suspected contamination by an agent within the categories above.

      OR

   3. Verified consumption, within a timeframe consistent with the incubation period of a disease agent of concern, of any liquid or solid with documented or suspected contamination by an agent within the categories above, whether accidental or deliberate.

      OR

   4. Verified presence, within a timeframe consistent with the incubation period of a disease agent of concern, in an area with documented or suspected release of an agent in the categories above, whether accidental or deliberate, or with endemic or enzootic foci of any of these agents above.

Health Care Worker:

1. Aged 18 years or older.
2. Health care worker from the NIH or a referring agency (e.g. USAMRIID) who is involved with, or anticipated to be involved with, the clinical care of above-defined patients. A health care worker is defined as anyone involved with patient care or having clinically significant patient contact.
3. The ability and understanding to provide written informed consent.

Healthy Volunteer:

1. Aged 18 years or older.
2. Does not have a suspected or confirmed infection or exposure
3. The ability and understanding to provide written informed consent.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Age \< 3 years or otherwise not conforming to NIH Clinical Center rules governing pediatric admissions.
2. Unwillingness to comply with protocol requirements.