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The Current State of Infectious Disasters Preparedness Around the World: A Qualitative Systematic Review (2007-2019)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 December 2020

Simintaj Sharififar
Affiliation:
Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Nursing, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Katayoun Jahangiri
Affiliation:
Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Public Health and Safety
Amir Khoshvaghti*
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Research Center, Aerospace and Subaquatic Medicine Faculty, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Amir Khoshvaghti, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Aerospace and Subaquatic Medicine Faculty, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Etemadzadeh St., West Fatemi Ave., Tehran, Iran. (e-mail: anatomygray2009@gmail.com).

Abstract

Infectious disasters have specific features which require special approaches and facilities. The main challenge is the rate of spread, and their ability to traverse the Earth in a short time. The preparedness of hospitals to face these events is therefore of the utmost importance. This study was designed to assess the preparedness of countries facing biological events worldwide. A qualitative systematic review was done from PubMed (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD), Scopus (Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands), Web of Science (Thomson Reuters, New York, NY), ProQuest (Ann Arbor, MI), and Google Scholar (Google Inc, Mountain View, CA). Two journals were searched as key journals. The search period was from January 1, 2007 to December 30, 2018. Twenty-one (21) documents were selected including 7 (33%) from Asia, 7 (33%) from Europe, 4 (19%) from USA, 2 (10%) from Africa, and 1 (5%) multi-continental. Forty-six (46) common sub-themes were obtained and categorized into 13 themes (infection prevention control, risk perception, planning, essential support services, surveillance, laboratory, vulnerable groups, education and exercise and evaluation, human resource, clinical management of patients, risk communication, budget, and coordination). Not all articles discussed all the identified categories. There is an extended process required to reach complete preparedness for confronting biological events, including adequate and well-managed budget. Medical centers may have trouble dealing with such events, at least in some respects, but most developed countries seem to be more prepared in this regard.

Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Copyright
© 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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