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Submit News Items to Kristi Lopez, Communications Officer, UK College of Pharmacy, |
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Pharmacists, Students Prepare for Role in Counter-terrorism
LEXINGTON, KY (Dec. 10, 2002) -- Pharmacists and health officials at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy are working to prepare for the vital role pharmacists would play in the aftermath of a bioterrorism attack using chemical or biological weapons. The events of Sept. 11, 2001, subsequent anthrax exposures, and the ongoing threat of chemical and biological weapons used for mass destruction have prompted the health care community to evaluate emergency procedures. "In the event of mass exposures, pharmacists would play a key role in distributing large quantities of vaccines, antidotes and other medications," said Robert Rapp, Pharm.D., professor at the UK College of Pharmacy. Along with having an important position in local, state and national preparedness teams, UK pharmacists also are working to train pharmacy students for the responsibility of combating bioterrorism in their future positions. Even before Sept. 11, 2001, many national organizations including the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), had begun discussions on the threat of pathogens such as plague and smallpox being used as weapons, Rapp said. "Ironically, I gave a lecture to pharmacy students on bioterrorism just days before Sept. 11, 2001," he said. "Although that terrorist attack didn’t include biological weapons, it certainly escalated our efforts for preparedness." Since last year, pharmacists and pharmacy organizations have worked to reassess emergency preparedness procedures and counter-terrorism resources on the local, regional and national level," said John Armitstead, assistant dean for medical pharmacy services. "We’ve tried to look beyond stocking certain drugs ‘Just In Time’ to determining what inventories of specific prophylaxis would be needed in various scenarios, such as an anthrax exposure," he said. "Ironically, I gave a lecture to pharmacy students on bioterrorism just days before Sept. 11, 2001," he said. "Although that terrorist attack didn’t include biological weapons, it certainly escalated our efforts for preparedness." Since last year, pharmacists and pharmacy organizations have worked to reassess emergency preparedness procedures and counter-terrorism resources on the local, regional and national level," said John Armitstead, assistant dean for medical pharmacy services. "We’ve tried to look beyond stocking certain drugs ‘Just In Time’ to determining what inventories of specific prophylaxis would be needed in various scenarios, such as an anthrax exposure," he said. In the event of an attack, pharmacists would work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Program to secure large quantities of medicinal supplies and quickly distribute them to the public. Armitstead, who leads a local committee of hospital pharmacy directors, administrators and clinical professionals in counter-terrorism preparedness, said the group has focused on updates of drug inventories, discussing bioterrorism scenarios, establishing hospital participation (inventory targets) and county emergency management needs, and learning about and acting on unique community risks. The Bluegrass Army Depot and General Electric plant, both located in Central Kentucky, provide risks unique to this area and need specific plans for preparedness in case of an attack or incident causing exposure, he said. Establishment of a pharmacy command center and drug distribution points are among topics the committee continues to address, he said. For the past two years, pharmacy students also have learned about counter-terrorism measures as part of the College’s curriculum. Rapp teaches third-year pharmacy students about bioterrorrism and counter-terrrorism measures during an Integrated Therapeutics course. The course emphasizes the need to identify agents likely to be used in bioterrorism acts; how to identify currently available antimicrobial agents active against probable bioterrorism agents; understanding adverse effects of antimicrobial agents likely to be needed in the event of a bioterrorist attack; and the need to review experience with antimicrobial agents used in recent anthrax attacks. Along with studying what is considered the most probable biological organisms to be used as weapons such as anthrax, botulinum, plague, small pox and tularemia, Rapp said the use of opiate-based narcotic fentanyl by Russian troops in November to end a hostage standoff by Chechen rebels was proof of how vulnerable we are to a possible attack. The gas, which is 100 times more powerful than morphine and is the most common narcotic used for anesthesia in surgeries done in the United States, was blamed for the deaths of 117 hostages in Russia. This incident proves this is an agent that deserves more thought especially since it was demonstrated how well it works as a weapon. In teaching pharmacy students, Rapp emphasizes that unfortunately bioterrorism is "not just possible, but probable." "My goal is for them to have an appreciation for what could happen and that as pharmacists how important a role they will have in distributing medication and counseling patients." Kristi Lopez, (859) 323-4730 |
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Kristi W. Lopez, Last
Modified:
December 12, 2002
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