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Ottawa research informs international Ebola guideline


June 14, 2016



Should clinicians wear double gloves or single gloves when caring for Ebola patients? What about full gowns versus coveralls? After Ebola broke out in West Africa in late 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) asked Dr. David Moher and his team to conduct a rapid review of previous studies to answer these important questions. The team worked long hours and produced a report in a fraction of the time it usually takes to complete this kind of study. The results were incorporated into a guideline published by WHO in 2014, and were fully published in PLOS ONE in 2015. The authors identified 30 relevant observational studies, but none compared different types of personal protective equipment, so the WHO guideline often allowed for different options. WHO has committed to working with partners on further studies.

Authors: Hersi M, Stevens A, Quach P, Hamel C, Thavorn K, Garritty C, Skidmore B, Vallenas C, Norris SL, Egger M, Eremin S, Ferri M, Shindo N, Moher D.

Funder: The World Health Organization (WHO)

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