High-consequence infectious diseases: the conception and development of a multi-disciplinary, interprofessional simulation training programme.

Background: High-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) represent a group of acute infectious diseases with the potential to impact healthcare systems and public health profoundly. Effective management requires a system-based strategy focused on early detection, initiation of infection prevention and control measures, and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Inadequate training in the safe use of HCID PPE, and lack of familiarity with key processes such as HCID waste and spills management, exacerbates the risk posed to healthcare workers (HCWs).

Validation of personal protective equipment ensembles, incorporating powered air-purifying respirators protected from contamination, for the care of patients with high-consequence infectious diseases.

Background: The UK High-Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID) Network of high-level isolation units provides care for patients with contact- or airborne-transmissible highly infectious and highly dangerous diseases. In most HCID units, the healthcare workers (HCWs) wear personal protective equipment (PPE) ensembles incorporating a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) for head and respiratory protection. Some PAPRs have components worn outside/over other PPE, necessitating decontamination of re-usable elements.

Clinical features and novel presentations of human monkeypox in a central London centre during the 2022 outbreak: descriptive case series.

Objective: To characterise the clinical features of monkeypox infection in humans.

Design: Descriptive case series.

Setting: A regional high consequences infectious disease centre with associated primary and secondary care referrals, and affiliated sexual health centres in south London between May and July 2022.