In cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), APIC offers this Bioterrorism Readiness Plan to serve as a reference document and initial template to facilitate preparation of bioterrorism readiness plans for individual institutions.

The Bioterrorism Readiness Plan: A Template for Healthcare Facilities outlines the steps necessary for responding to the biological agents most likely to be employed in any future biological attack: smallpox, botulism toxin, anthrax, and plague.

The Bioterrorism Readiness Plan provides information on the unique characteristics, specific recommendations, management, and follow-up appropriate for each of these biological agents. It covers the description, etiology, and mode of transmission of each agent and the necessary isolation precautions, patient management, and post-discharge planning associated with each. The document also provides details regarding post-exposure management, prophylaxis, and decontamination consistent with each pathogen; laboratory support and diagnosis; and protocols for the cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of equipment and environment. The plan outlines patient/visitor/public health precautions, and contains some discussion of the psychological and mental health aspects of a bioterrorist event. Finally, included will be useful appendices covering healthcare worker exposure fact sheets; relevant Web sites for bioterrorism readiness; and other necessary information for infection control professionals to have in the event of a bioterrorist attack.

The format of the Bioterrorism Readiness Plan is easily adapted to suit individual needs of institutions, a "cookie cutter" approach to creating specific bioterrorism readiness plans. With the mounting concerns regarding threats of bioterrorism throughout the country, the timely appearance of this accessible device is meant to allow infection control professionals and healthcare epidemiologists in all healthcare facilities to prepare appropriate plans utilizing established networks to satisfy needs of unique situations.