Care of the patient with invasive meningococcal disease by emergency medical service clinicians: A scoping review protocol

Abstract

Background Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a rare but potentially fatal disease. It can rapidly progress within minutes to hours and carries a significant burden of disease worldwide. The role of emergency medical service (EMS) clinicians in providing early care for the patient with IMD is important, but the literature regarding the pre-hospital phase of care is sparse. Aim The aim of this scoping review is to systematically map the literature to identify the scope, depth and key concepts in the evidence, and to identify gaps in knowledge regarding the care of the patient with IMD by EMS clinicians. Methods A comprehensive electronic search strategy will be used to locate sources of evidence that fit the inclusion criteria of the study. Data will be extracted, charted and reported in accordance with current best practice for scoping reviews. Discussion This protocol provides the framework for the first scoping review to identify the scope, depth and key concepts in the evidence, and to identify gaps in knowledge regarding the care of the patient with IMD by EMS clinicians. The review report will present the current state of knowledge, inform clinical practice guideline development and identify gaps in the evidence requiring further research.