Treatment Of Biological Warfare Agent Casualties

This publication serves as a guide and a reference for trained members of the Armed Forces Medical Services and other medically qualified personnel on the recognition and treatment of biological warfare agent casualties. Information contained in this publication may also be relevant for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with naturally acquired diseases or illnesses due to pathogens with BW potential. This publication: (1) Classifies and describes potential BW agents. (2) Provides procedures for collecting, handling and labeling, shipping, and identifying potential BW agents. (3) Describes procedures for medical diagnosing, treating, and management of BW casualties. (4) Describes medical management and treatment in BW operations. The treatment modalities contained in this manual differ from standard textbooks in that they apply to BW agent exposures. The method of exposure for most BW agents is by inhalation; whereas, the endemic disease exposure (if applicable) is by other means. Some are by ingestion, some by arthropod bites, and others by dermal contact with the agent. This does not preclude service members becoming BW casualties by these means.

This publication serves as a guide and a reference for trained members of the Armed Forces MedicalServices and other medically qualified personnel on the recognition and treatment of biological warfare (BW) agent casualties. Information contained in this publication may also be relevant for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with naturally acquired diseases or illnesses due to pathogens with BW potential.

The purpose for this handbook is to serve as a concise pocket-sized manual that will guide medical personnel in the prophylaxis and management of biological casulties. It is designed as a quick reference and overview, and is not intended as a definitive text on the medical management of biological casualties.

This publication serves as a guide and a reference for trained members of the Armed Forces Medical Services and other medically qualified personnel on the recognition and treatment of biological warfare (BW) agent casualties. Information contained in this publication may also be relevant for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with naturally acquired diseases or illnesses due to pathogens with BW potential. This publication 1) classifies and describes potential BW agents, 2) provides procedures for collecting, handling and labeling, shipping, and identifying potential BW agents, 3) describes procedures for medial diagnosing, treating, and management of BW casualties, and 4) describes medical management and treatment in BW operations. The material in this publication is applicable to both the conventional battlefield and the integrated environment of the battlefield. Treatment modalities contained in this manual differ from standard textbooks in that they apply to BW agent exposures. The method of exposure for most BW agents is by inhalation; whereas, the endemic disease exposure (if applicable) is by other means. Some are by ingestion, some by arthropod bites, and other by dermal contact with the agent. This does not preclude service members becoming BW casualties by these means. The use of the term “level of care” in this publication is synonymous with “echelon of care” and “role or care.” The term “echelon of care” is the old North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) term. The term “role of care” is the new NATO and American, British, Canadian, and Australian (ABCA) term.