Anthrax | Disaster Nursing

Question 1

Terrorism involves overt actions for the expressed purpose of causing harm. What are 4 ways this can be done?

Answer 1

Disease pathogens (ex. bioterrorism); chemical agents; radiologic/nuclear; explosive devices

Question 2

How are anthrax, plague, and tularemia treated?

Answer 2

Antibiotics (assuming there are sufficient supplies)

Question 3

_ can be prevented or ameliorated by vaccination even when first given after exposure

Answer 3

Smallpox

Question 4

Botulism is treated with

Answer 4

antitoxin

Question 5

Treatment for hemorrhagic fever

Answer 5

none known

Question 6

Sarin is a toxic gas that can cause death within minutes of exposure. It enters the body through the es and skin and paralyzes respiratory muscles. Name 2 antidotes for this nerve agent

Answer 6

atropine, pralidoxime chloride

Question 7

_ is a colorless gas normally used in chemical manufacturing

Answer 7

Phosgene

Question 8

If phosgene is inhaled at high concentrations for long enough it causes (3)

Answer 8

respiratory distress, pulmonary edema, death

Question 9

Yellow to brown in color with garlic like odor

Answer 9

Mustard gas

Question 10

Mustard gas irritates eyes and causes skin

Answer 10

burns/blisters

Question 11

Mix of explosives and radioactive material. When detonated, blast scatters radioactive dust resulting in radioactive contamination

Answer 11

radiologic dispersal devices (RRDs)/”Dirty bombs”

Question 12

Main danger from RRDs

Answer 12

Explosion

Note: They do not usually generate enough radiation to cause immediate serious illness except to casualties who are close to the explosion

Question 13

After RRD, measures to limit contamination should be initiated because radiation cannot be

Answer 13

seen, smelled, felt, or tasted

Question 14

Ionizing radiation example

Answer 14

nuclear bomb or damage to a nuclear reactor

Question 15

With ionizing radiation there is

Answer 15

serious threat to safety of people and environment

Question 16

If external radioactive contaminants are present, _ procedures must be initiated immediately

Answer 16

decontamination

Question 17

_ develops after a substantial exposure to ionizing radiation

Answer 17

Acute radiation syndrome

Note: follows a predictable pattern

Question 18

Explosive devices result in one or more of the following types of injuries (3)

Answer 18

Blast, crush, or penetrating

Note: Damage to lungs, middle ear, GI tract can also occur

Question 19

_ Injuries result from explosions that occur in confined spaces and result from structural collapse

Answer 19

Crush

Question 20

_ injures result from explosive devices that contain materials that are projected during the explosion

Answer 20

Penetrating

Question 21

Any extraordinary event that requires a rapid and skilled response and can be managed by a community’s existing resources

Answer 21

Emergency

Question 22

Manmade or natural event or disaster that overwhelms the community’s ability to respond with existing resources

Answer 22

Mass causality incident (MCI)

Question 23

MCIs usually involve large numbers of casualties (>_)m physical/emotional suffering, and permanent changes in the community

Answer 23

> 100

Question 24

_ always require assistance from people/resources outside of the community (ex. FEMA, American Red Cross)

Answer 24

MCIs

Question 25

When an emergency or MCI occurs first responders are dispatched. Triage of casualties is different from in the emergency department. The triage is conducted in

Answer 25

<15 seconds

Question 26

System of colored tags designates both (2)

Answer 26

serious of injury and likelihood of survival

Question 27

Green (minor injury) or yellow (non life threatening injury) tag indicates

Answer 27

non critical injury

Question 28

Red tag indicates _ injury requiring immediate intervention

Answer 28

life threatening

Question 29

Black tag identifies

Answer 29

The dead or those expected to die

Question 30

Casualties who arrive at hospitals on their own without EMS

Answer 30

Walking wounded

Question 31

If there is known or suspected contamination, decontaminate at the scene then

Answer 31

transport to hospital

Question 32

How can a hospital predict the total number of casualties expected to come seek treatment?

Answer 32

Double the number of casualties that arrive in the 1st hour Note: generally 30% need admission and half of these need surgery in 1st 8h

Question 33

Partners in emergency preparedness, and training helps citizen to understand their personal responsibility in preparing for natural/manmade disaster

Answer 33

CERT- Community emergency response teams

Question 34

Section within homeland security that is responsible for the coordination of the federal medical response to MCIs

Answer 34

National Disaster medical System (NDMS)

Question 35

NDMS organizes and trains volunteer _

Answer 35

disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs)

Question 36

- Can be deployed within 8 hours - can remain self sufficient for 72 hours with enough food, water, shelter, and medical supplies to treat 250 patients per day

Answer 36

Level 1 DMAT

Question 37

- Lacks enough equipment to be self sufficient but is used to replace a level 1 team - Uses and supplements the equipment left on site

Answer 37

Level 2 DMAT

Question 38

Arranges group discussions to allow participants to verbalize and validate their feelings and emotions about the experience to facilitate psychologic recovery

Answer 38

Critical incident stress management unit

Question 39

Anthrax is caused by the spore forming bacterium _

Answer 39

bacillus anthracis

Question 40

Human infection of anthrax typically follows contact with

Answer 40

anthrax infected animals or animal products | Note: can also be from intentional exposure

Question 41

3 clinical forms of anthrax

Answer 41

cutaneous, inhalation, gastrointestinal

Question 42

Intentional anthrax can be introduced with inhalation and cutaneous exposure through

Answer 42

US mail

Question 43

farm workers can come into contact with anthrax from

Answer 43

infected animals

Question 44

processors of wool, hair, hides, bones, or other _ can come into contact with anthrax

Answer 44

animal products

Question 45

B. anthraces is one of the most important pathogens on the list of

Answer 45

bioterrorism threats

Question 46

Be particularly aware of anthrax infection especially in

Answer 46

mail handlers

Question 47

What is this concern of? previously healthy patient with rapidly progressive respiratory illness or cutaneous ulcer

Answer 47

anthrax

Question 48

Report B. anthraces suspicion to

Answer 48

HCP and local/state public health staff

Question 49

Exposed patients should continue treatment for _ days

Answer 49

60

Question 50

Surface swabs and nasal swabs if person was potentially exposed to anthrax in the last

Answer 50

7 days

Question 51

Potentially exposed to anthrax should get

Answer 51

antimicrobial prophylaxis

Question 52

cutaneous anthrax begins as a _ and progresses through a vesicular stage to a depressed black necrotic ulcer (eschar)

Answer 52

papule

Question 53

_ anthrax will resemble a viral like illness

Answer 53

inhalational

Question 54

_ anthrax has abdominal distress usually accompanied by bloody vomiting or diarrhea, followed by fever and signs of septiecemia

Answer 54

GI | Note: develops after ingestion of contaminated poorly cooked meat

Question 55

Chest XR for inhalation anthrax will show

Answer 55

widened mediastinum, pleural effusions, infiltrates, and pulmonary congestion

Question 56

Meds used for anthrax

Answer 56

ciprofloxacin or doxycycline for 60 days