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

NCT01200953 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 10019710-I-0197
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: \- Increased clinical attention has been paid to the evaluation and management of bioterrorism-related illness (such as anthrax infection) and emerging infectious diseases (such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome \[SARS\] and new strains of influenza). However, evaluation and treatment data for these illnesses are often limited because human infections to date have been relatively limited. Further knowledge about diseases of bioterrorism concern and emerging infectious diseases may lead to more effective forms of therapy to prevent disease-related illnesses and deaths. Objectives: \- To apply standardized, documented, and carefully monitored evaluation and treatment methods for bioterrorism- and biodefense-related illnesses and emerging infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Eligibility:

• Individuals at least 3 years of age who have confirmed or suspected infection by a biodefense or bioterrorism agent, or an emerging infectious disease agent.
• Individuals at least 3 years of age who have confirmed or suspected exposure to a biodefense or bioterrorism agent, an emerging infectious disease agent, or who have close exposure to an individual who is suspected of being infected with one of these agents.
• Health care workers who are involved in medical treatment of the abovementioned infected or exposed individuals. Design:
• All eligible persons will have an initial screening evaluation to determine the circumstances of possible infectious exposure (e.g., where, when, and how exposed), current medical condition and medical care given, and any aspects of medical history that might be relevant to the exposure.
• Participants may be seen in an outpatient clinic or in the Special Clinical Studies Unit (SCSU) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH SCSU is a hospital ward specially designed to minimize the risk of spreading infection to others.
• Upon admission, participants will provide blood and urine samples, have an electrocardiogram to measure heart activity, and have specific tests or procedures associated with the particular infectious agent.
• Participants who develop illnesses will be treated with the standard of care for known diseases or with experimental measures, depending on the nature of the illness. Separate consent may be required for these treatments.
• Participants will remain on this study for at least 1 year following the period of active evaluation and treatment. Participants may be asked to come to the NIH outpatient clinic on a periodic basis for medical evaluations and blood tests, and may be asked to keep a diary card to record any unusual signs or symptoms of possible infection.

Conditions

Incubation Period, Infectious Disese; Occupational Accidents

Keywords

Select Agents; Biosafety; Bioterrorism; SCSU (Special Clinical Studies Unit); Natural History; Infectious Disease; Bioterrorism-Related Illness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Symptoms and signs

  Determination of sustained absence of disease-specific symptoms and signs.

  1 year

Study Arms (4)

Confirmed or suspected exposure

Confirmed or suspected exposure to biodefense select agent, to agent of bioterrorism concern, to naturally-occurring pathogen in the environment, to EID agent, or to an individual

Confirmed or suspected infection

Confirmed or suspected infection by biodefense select agent, by agent of bioterrorism concern, by naturally-occurring pathogen in the environment, or by emerging infectious disease agent

Healthcare worker or healthy volunteer

Healthcare worker or healthy volunteer involved in simulation drills or exercises evaluating the Clinical Center admission, care, and infection control processes

Healthcare worker surveillance

Healthcare worker surveillance of medical staff involved in the medical care of patients in the above 2 categories

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 3 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

4 categories:-Confirmed or suspected infection by biodefense select agent, by agent of bioterrorism concern, by naturally-occurring pathogen in the environment, or by emerging infectious disease agent-Confirmed or suspected exposure to biodefense select agent, to agent of bioterrorism concern, to naturally-occurring pathogen in the environment, to emerging infectious disease agent, or to an individual suspected of harboring infection with one of these pathogens in a manner conducive to possible person-to-person transmission-Healthcare worker surveillance of medical staff involved in the medical care of patients in the above 2 categories-Healthcare worker or healthy volunteer involved in simulation drills or exercises evaluating the Clinical Center admission, care, and infection control processes for individuals falling into one of the above categories

You may qualify if:

• 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.
• Clinically stable for transfer to the Clinical Center.
• One of the following:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• Clinical findings consistent with infection with an agent in the categories above, whether acute or recovering/convalescent.
• AND
• Clinically stable for transfer to the Clinical Center.
• One of the following:
• 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.

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): lead

Study Sites (1)

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

RECRUITING

Related Links

• NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Communicable Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Infections; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Luca T Giurgea, M.D.

  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Luca T Giurgea, M.D.

CONTACT

(301) 538-5235; luca.giurgea@nih.gov

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: NIH
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 11, 2010
• First Posted: September 14, 2010
• Study Start: August 4, 2011
• Last Updated: June 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05-14

Locations

US (1)