Risks and prevention of nosocomial transmission of rare zoonotic diseases

Americans are increasingly exposed to exotic zoonotic diseases through trav el, contact with exotic pets, occupational exposure, and leisure pursuits. Appropriate isolation precautions are required to prevent nosocomial transm ission of rare zoonotic diseases for which person-to-person transmission ha s been documented. This minireview provides guidelines for the isolation of patients and management of staff exposed to the following infectious disea ses with documented person-to-person transmission: Andes hantavirus disease , anthrax, B virus infection, hemorrhagic fevers (due to Ebola, Marburg, La ssa, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Argentine hemorrhagic fever, and Boli vian hemorrhagic fever viruses), monkeypox, plague, Q fever, and rabies. Se veral of these infections may also be encountered as bioterrorism hazards ( i.e., anthrax, hemorrhagic fever viruses, plague, and Q fever). Adherence t o recommended isolation precautions will allow for proper patient care whil e protecting the health care workers who provide care to patients with know n or suspected zoonotic infections capable of nosocomial transmission.