The skin is the first line of defense against chemical warfare agents including nerve agents and toxic industrial chemicals, providing a possible barrier or delay to systemic distribution. However, some chemicals act directly on the skin including vesicants sulfur mustard and corrosive compounds such as strong acids or bases, and do not have to gain access to systemic circulation to cause extensive skin damage. Early and rapid skin decontamination is extremely important following exposure to chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals because it decreases serious skin damage to the patient and, potentially, their doctor. This multi-authored international text pulls together a century of decontamination research and helps the reader expedite solutions that will decrease morbidity and mortality. Complete with dozens of hiqh quality photographs and illustrations, Skin Decontamination aids industrial hygiene, dermatology, occupational physicians and those involved in the public health arena.

The threat of domestic terrorism today looms larger than ever. Bombings at the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City's Federal Building, as well as nerve gas attacks in Japan, have made it tragically obvious that American civilians must be ready for terrorist attacks. What do we need to know to help emergency and medical personnel prepare for these attacks? Chemical and Biological Terrorism identifies the R&D efforts needed to implement recommendations in key areas: pre-incident intelligence, detection and identification of chemical and biological agents, protective clothing and equipment, early recognition that a population has been covertly exposed to a pathogen, mass casualty decontamination and triage, use of vaccines and pharmaceuticals, and the psychological effects of terror. Specific objectives for computer software development are also identified. The book addresses the differences between a biological and chemical attack, the distinct challenges to the military and civilian medical communities, and other broader issues. This book will be of critical interest to anyone involved in civilian preparedness for terrorist attack: planners, administrators, responders, medical professionals, public health and emergency personnel, and technology designers and engineers.

Surgical site infections are caused by bacteria that get in through incisions made during surgery. They threaten the lives of millions of patients each year and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance. In low- and middle-income countries, 11% of patients who undergo surgery are infected in the process. In Africa, up to 20% of women who have a caesarean section contract a wound infection, compromising their own health and their ability to care for their babies. But surgical site infections are not just a problem for poor countries. In the United States, they contribute to patients spending more than 400 000 extra days in hospital at a cost of an additional US $10 billion per year. No international evidence-based guidelines had previously been available before WHO launched its global guidelines on the prevention of surgical site infection on 3 November 2016, and there are inconsistencies in the interpretation of evidence and recommendations in existing national guidelines. These new WHO guidelines are valid for any country and suitable to local adaptations, and take account of the strength of available scientific evidence, the cost and resource implications, and patient values and preferences.

This fourth edition of the anthrax guidelines encompasses a systematic review of the extensive new scientific literature and relevant publications up to end 2007 including all the new information that emerged in the 3-4 years after the anthrax letter events. This updated edition provides information on the disease and its importance, its etiology and ecology, and offers guidance on the detection, diagnostic, epidemiology, disinfection and decontamination, treatment and prophylaxis procedures, as well as control and surveillance processes for anthrax in humans and animals. With two rounds of a rigorous peer-review process, it is a relevant source of information for the management of anthrax in humans and animals.

The new WHO guidelines provide recommended steps for safe phlebotomy and reiterate accepted principles for drawing, collecting blood and transporting blood to laboratories/blood banks. The main areas covered by the toolkit are: 1. bloodborne pathogens transmitted through unsafe injection practices;2. relevant elements of standard precautions and associated barrier protection;3. best injection and related infection prevention and control practices;4. occupational risk factors and their management.

Since publication of the Second Edition in 1989, numerous innovations have occurred that affect the way scientists look at issues in the field of percutaneous absorption. Focusing on recent advances as well as updating and expanding the scope of topics covered in the previous edition, Percutaneous Absorption, Third Edition provides thorough coverage of the skin's role as an important portal of entry for chemicals into the body. Assembles the work of nearly 80 experts-30 more than the Second Edition-into a unified, comprehensive volume that contains the latest ideas and research! Complete with nearly 600 drawings, photographs, equations, and tables and more than 1600 bibliographic citations of pertinent literature, Percutaneous Absorption, Third Edition details the applied biology of percutaneous penetration factors that affect skin permeation, such as age, vehicles, metabolism, hydration of skin, and chemical structure in vivo and in vitro techniques for measuring absorption, examining factors influencing methodology such as animal models, volatility of test compound, multiple dosage, and artificial membranes procedures for use in transdermal delivery, exploring topics such as effects of penetration enhancers on absorption, optimizing absorption, and the topical delivery of drugs to muscle tissue And presents new chapters on mathematical models cutaneous metabolism prediction of percutaneous absorption in vitro absorption methodology dermal decontamination concentration of chemicals in skin transdermal drug delivery mechanisms of absorption safety evaluation of cosmetics absorption of drugs and cosmetic ingredients nail penetration Emphasizes human applications-particularly useful for pharmacists, pharmacologists, dermatologists, cosmetic scientists, biochemists, toxicologists, public health officials, manufacturers of cosmetic and toiletry products, and graduate students in these disciplines! An invaluable reference source for readers who need to keep up with the latest developments in the field, Percutaneous Absorption, Third Edition is also an excellent experimental guide for laboratory personnel.

The proliferation and sophistication of riot control chemicals mean that all parties need to understand the responsible use and effects of such compounds. This book provides practical information on the history, chemistry, and biology of riot control agents and discusses their biological actions, risk assessment issues, and recent technical develop