Aeromedical Risk Assessment of Pharmaceuticals Using Evidence-Based Medicine.

Background: Using concepts from evidence-based medicine, systems theory, and risk assessment, a standardized model was developed to accept or reject medications for use in flight. The model calculates the risk scores of medications, which can then be compared to an organization's acceptable risk tolerance.

Methods: Risk scores for each medication were established by summing the products of incidence rates and severity scores for all published side effects.

The attack rate of H1N1 in various berthing configurations on board an aircraft carrier.

Objective: We compared attack rates for novel H1N1 influenza A (H1N1) among various groups aboard an aircraft carrier as influenced by characteristics of their living arrangements.

Methods: During an outbreak of H1N1 on board the USS George Washington (GW), group affiliation (department or squadron membership) data were obtained on all patients who were placed in respiratory isolation based on their diagnosis with presumptive H1N1. Because berthing spaces are assigned by department and various characteristics of each department's berthing spaces are known, analysis of attack rates in comparison to these characteristics was possible.

Two aircraft carriers’ perspectives: a comparative of control measures in shipboard H1N1 outbreaks.

Background: The USS George Washington (GW) and the USS Ronald Reagan (RR), 2 US Navy aircraft carriers, experienced almost simultaneous outbreaks of novel H1N1 influenza A in the summer of 2009. We compared the respective epidemic control measures taken and subsequent lessons learned.

Methods: Data were collated from both outbreaks to assess various elements including attack rate, isolation/quarantine protocols, and treatment methods.