Evaluation of emergency drug releases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Quarantine Stations

Am J Disaster Med. 2015;10(4):295-9. doi: 10.5055/ajdm.2015.0211.

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Quarantine Stations distribute select lifesaving drug products that are not commercially available or are in limited supply in the United States for emergency treatment of certain health conditions. Following a retrospective analysis of shipment records, the authors estimated an average of 6.66 hours saved per shipment when drug products were distributed from quarantine stations compared to a hypothetical centralized site from CDC headquarters in Atlanta, GA. This evaluation supports the continued use of a decentralized model which leverages CDC's regional presence and maximizes efficiency in the distribution of lifesaving drugs.

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials / supply & distribution
  • Artemisinins / supply & distribution
  • Artesunate
  • Botulinum Antitoxin
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.*
  • Diphtheria Antitoxin
  • Emergencies*
  • Georgia
  • Hospitals, Isolation*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / supply & distribution
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / supply & distribution*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Time-to-Treatment
  • Transportation / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemisinins
  • Botulinum Antitoxin
  • Diphtheria Antitoxin
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Artesunate