Field Hospital Research Articles

Extreme Schedule Strategies for Blitz Projects: Lessons from Specialty Field Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As global crises such as COVID-19 become more frequent, many projects, which can be called blitz projects, will need to be completed extremely quickly in response. However, there remains a lack of theoretical support for their implementation as well as systematic strategies for managing their schedules. This article examines the responses to COVID-19 by three specialty field hospitals in China. Through reviews and cross-analysis of the influential factors and practices, and their effects on extreme schedule management, this article proposes a systematic strategic framework including the elements of mission, solution and innovation, organization and culture, communication, resources, dynamics, and adaptability.

Feasibility of and Experience With Free State-Funded Telehealth-Based Patient Self-referral for COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Therapy.

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been underutilized due to logistical challenges, lack of access, and variable treatment awareness among patients and health-care professionals. The use of telehealth during the pandemic provides an opportunity to increase access to COVID-19 care. This is a single-center descriptive study of telehealth-based patient self-referral for mAb therapy between March 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021, at Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital (BCCFH). Among the 1001 self-referral patients, the mean age was 47, and most were female (57%). White (66%), and had a primary care provider (PCP) (62%). During the study period, self-referrals increased from 14/mo in March to 427 in October resulting in a 30-fold increase. Approximately 57% of self-referred patients received a telehealth visit, and of those 82% of patients received mAb infusion therapy. The median time from self-referral to onsite infusion was 2 d (1-3 IQR). Our study shows the integration of telehealth with a self-referral process improved access to mAb infusion. A high proportion of self-referrals were appropriate and led to timely treatment. This approach helped those without traditional avenues for care and avoided potential delay for patients seeking referral from their PCPs.

The outcome of oxygen therapy on desaturated patient with moderate to severe symptoms in Kogabwilhan II Indrapura Field Hospital

Background: Since the first outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in late 2019 in Wuhan, the SARS-CoV virus has grown rapidly and spread around the globe. The virus invades respiratory epithelium, causing inflammation and damage to lung cells, which causes impaired gas exchange and leads to a desaturated state. Kogabwilhan II Indrapura Field Hospital in Surabaya was an initial emergency hospital for asymptomatic and mild-symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Due to the massive surge of COVID-19 cases in East Java, it had to treat moderate and severe symptomatic patients. Aim: The study aims to report clinical prognosis post-COVID-19 infection. Method: This is a retrospective descriptive study in Kogabwilhan II Indrapura Field Hospital with desaturated COVID-19 patients from March 2020 to October 2021 as samples. Results: Of 471 admitted COVID-19 patients with desaturation, 36.9% were moderate-symptomatic, and 63.9% had severe ones. All patients received oxygen therapy and multivitamins. Then, 29.7% of patients were cured, while 70.3% were referred. 48.4% of referred patients were bonam, 10.2% were pronounced deceased, and 11.7% were unknown. Conclusion: Most patients declared cured after being referred to another center.

Association of Serum Zinc Level and Clinical Outcome in Patients with COVID19 Virus

Abstract Background Zinc, one of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant micronutrient found in food with well-established role in immunity, is currently being used in some clinical trials against COVID-19. Objective The aim of our study was to assess the association between mean levels of Zinc in the patients and mortality caused by COVID-19. Patients and Methods This was a comparative cross-sectional study that was performed on 60 Egyptian patients at Ain Shams University Quarantine field hospital, Ain Shams University Quarantine hospital In Al OboUr, and outpatient clinics at Ain shams university hospitals for 6 months period This study patients were divided according to clinical outcome into: Group I that included patients admitted to ICU and Group II that included patients admitted to ward. Results There was no statistically significant difference found between two groups regarding Sex, Age and Special habits, and there was no statistically significant difference found between two groups regarding CO-RADS classification, and there was statistically highly significant difference found found between two groups regarding Medical history. There was statistically significant difference found between two groups regarding Zinc level. There was statistically no significant difference found between two groups regarding Lymphocytes, Hemoglobin, Platelets, BUN, S. Creatinine, Total Bilirubin and S. Albumin, and there was statistically significant difference found between two groups regarding Neutrophil- Lymphocyte ratio, CRP, ESR, AST, ALT, FERRITIN and LDH, and there was statistically highly significant difference found between two groups regarding TLC, Neutrophils, D-DIMER and VIT D. Conclusion This study concluded a correlation between low SZC and COVID-19 severity and mortality. The cause is likely to be a combination of immune system imbalance and a direct benefit of viral replication. Thus, we propose SZC as a novel and additional parameter to predict COVID19 outcome.

Military surgery and field surgical care in the Czech Army.

Military surgery is one of the basic branches of military medicine. It is based on the principles of surgery performed in peacetime, but is significantly different when performed under specific conditions. The aim of the article is to describe these differences and present the current state of providing surgical care in the field in the Czech Army. Medical support in the field, or the treatment and evacuation system of medical services of the armies of NATO member countries, is organized on four levels, matched by medical facilities designated as Role 1-4. Surgical care in the field usually takes place at the level of Role 2 and Role 3. While in the conditions of a foreign military mission, surgical treatment aims to achieve a definitive standard, in a typical war conflict the only goal is to save life and limb and prepare casualties for further evacuation. Additionally, triage of the wounded is an important part of health care in the field at individual levels, the importance of which increases especially in the case of mass casualties. In the military medical service of the Army of the Czech Republic, goals are defined as part of the construction and development of capabilities, which should expand and reinforce the current potential of providing surgical care in the field - currently encompassing two field hospitals capable of Role 2 or 3. The ambitious plan to construct additional field medical elements is difficult to achieve in the expected time horizon and, in addition, it also faces a significant shortage of military surgeons due to the planned scope of capacity increase. Despite all the objective difficulties, however, Czech military surgeons have a high credit in the eyes of the NATO allies, gained during the deployment of the Czech field hospital or of the Czech field surgical team within multinational military units.

Clinical Characteristics and Factors Associated with Mortality of Patients with COVID-19 at Bussarakham Field Hospital: Thailand

Objective: During the third and fourth wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); from April to September 2021 all hospitals in Bangkok Metropolitan Region reached surge capacity. Hence, Bussarakham Field Hospital (BH) was established to address this crisis. This study aimed to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in BH, Thailand’s largest field hospital for COVID-19. Material and Methods: This was a retrospective study among all adult COVID-19 patients, confirmed by Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), admitted to BH from May to September 2021. The data on potential factors associated with treatment outcome (survived or deceased) were retrieved from the standard admission records for COVID-19 and discharge summaries. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to explore factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Results: A total of 18,173 patients were enrolled with death occurring in 224 patients during hospitalization. The mortality rate was 1.23%. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) of male gender, aged >65 years, having diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, lower respiratory tract (LRT) symptoms at initial presentation, pneumonia with hypoxemia at initial presentation were: 1.91 (1.35, 2.70), 5.37 (3.75, 7.69), 2.55 (1.75, 3.71), 6.40 (2.15, 19.08), 2.81 (1.88, 4.19) and 3.11 (1.35, 7.15) respectively. Conclusion: The pre-existing factors that increased mortality risk consisted of elderly age, diabetes mellitus and pregnancy. In addition, patients who presented with LRT symptoms or pneumonia with hypoxemia also had a higher mortality risk. Therefore, clinical triage should be carefully performed in field hospitals during any pandemic.

Addressing the Dilemma of a “Crisis within a crisis”: Exploring the Penetration Testing challenges in a Mobile Field Hospital Setting

This paper focuses on evaluating the security challenges faced by mobile field hospitals, which play a crucial role in emergency response and disaster management in remote and austere environments. The authors conducted a penetration test using the Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM) framework to assess the security posture of a mobile field hospital. The methodology employed in the study included a combination of automated and manual techniques such as network scanning, vulnerability assessments, social engineering, and exploitation. The penetration test revealed several security vulnerabilities in the mobile field hospital, including weak passwords, unpatched software, and inadequate network segmentation. Additionally, the study identified vulnerabilities in the hospital's medical devices and equipment, posing a risk of cyber-attacks that could disrupt operations and compromise patient safety. The results underscore the importance of implementing enhanced security measures in mobile field hospitals to mitigate cyber threats and ensure the uninterrupted functioning of medical operations during emergencies and disasters. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the mobile field hospital's security posture using the OSSTMM framework and emphasizes the urgent need for improved security practices in such settings. Keywords: Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Penetration Testing, Mobile Field Hospitals, Data, Emergency Response, Open Source, Security Testing, Ethical Hacking, Security Frameworks, Proceedings Citation Format Ahmed, N.B., Daclin, N., Olivaux, M. & 4usserre, G. (2023): Addressing the Dilemma of a “Crisis within a crisis”: Exploring the Penetration Testing challenges in a Mobile Field Hospital Setting. Proceedings of the Cyber Secure Nigeria Conference. Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Abuja, Nigeria. 11-12th July, 2023. Pp 67-80 https://www.csean.org.ng/. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/CSEAN-SMART2023P9

Acute Kidney Injury in Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria; Field Hospital Experience

Malaria is most common health problem in tropical areas that can lead to fatal complications including acute kidney injury. Plasmodium falciparum infection is one of leading cause of complicated malaria leading to death. Although the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury is not fully understood, however, blockage of renal microcirculation due to sequestration of red blood cells, immune mediated glomerular injury, and hypovolemia, play a pivotal role in causing acute of kidney dysfunction. Acute tubular necrosis is most found on histological examination. Acute kidney dysfunction induced by malaria infection can cause irreversible damage if not managed properly. Therefore, early diagnosis and management with dialysis, plays important role in saving life.

A review on precast structural concrete walls and connections

Extreme events, with natural or manmade causes, such as floods, pandemics and wars, have recently brought the need to provide shelter and field hospitals in a very fast and affordable way. Prefabrication can play an relevant role in this context, by offering several advantages compared to on-site construction. The precast structural wall system is a paradigmatic example of how precast structural members can contribute to speed up construction and reduce costs. A new research project was defined to develop with the aim of delivering a new product, a precast structural concrete wall system, where the design of the wall itself and connections are key, keeping in mind not only the above requirements, but also the new demands created by the recent challenges of the construction sector. To reach this goal, first is necessary to survey the existing commercial solutions and developed by researchers and analyse the main scientific and technical documents about precast structural wall systems. Herein, a comprehensive review is presented, aiming at identifying the most relevant aspects regarding precast structural concrete walls and connections. The main advances made in the past and that are being developed in the present are also highlighted. The growing concerns of the prefabrication sector about durability and sustainability were identified as mandatory for new generation of products. To produce prefabricated solutions with less environmental impact is required, beyond the optimization related with cement consumption, connections that are easier to use, to maintain and that allow disassembly, for future deconstruction and reuse. So, innovative improvements are proposed, namely, dry connections and concrete composite walls to be addressed in future work, with the goal of correcting some of the drawbacks found in existing solutions.

Locating Selection and Resource Allocation After a Possible Earthquake in Amol City

Background and objective Transferring injured people to medical centers is one of the important challenges of providing relief in natural and man-made disasters. Often, due to the damage caused by the disaster, it is not possible to transfer the injured to safe medical centers in the short term. Establishing field hospitals in suitable places is one of the common solutions in these situations. This study aims address the problem of location selection for field hospitals using mathematical modeling and asses how to allocate resources, including medical staff and needed medications by the temporary hospitals. Method This study presents an integer programming model for the location selection problem. To evaluate the proposed model, the real data from Amol City was collected and used as inputs. The optimal solution was determined using GAMS 25.1 optimization software. Results The calculation results illustrated the best place for the establishment of field hospitals, which is located in Banafsheh Park. It has also been determined that each deployed field hospital should have 60 beds. In addition, the optimal number of medical personnel and relief vehicles for relief operations was determined. The sensitivity analysis has also shown that if any of the hospitals located in Amol is damaged and inactive due to an accident, Hefdeh Shahrivar Square is a suitable place to build a field hospital. Conclusion The results of this study can help authorities in Amol city to make the best decisions regarding where to establish field hospitals and how to use the limited available resources during disasters. The main innovation of the presented model also is the location of field hospitals along with considering the active hospitals around the affected areas so that the injured can be transferred to the active hospitals in addition to the constructed field hospitals. In this model, a constraint has been applied to complete the service time, so that the rescue vehicles have a limited time to transport the injured to the rescue centers.

Hungarian Army Role 2 Capability

The Fundamental Law of Hungary and the National Military Strategy both state that the Hungarian Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of the independence of the state, and its citizens and enforcement of the state’s interests. Thus, the Hungarian Government decided to extend the capabilities of the Hungarian Defence Forces with a Role 2 field hospital. Being a NATO member country Hungary has decided to join NATO and other joint missions providing both with military force, and logistical and medical support. However, until now, Hungary was not able to support its troops or NATO allied forces with an independent Role 2 level medical facility, which would beable to provide life-saving, limb-saving and function saving surgeries, and short term intensive and postoperative care outside Hungary’s borders as a deployed field hospital. According to the instruction of the Hungarian Government, the planning stage has begun and the first steps of the acquisition process was made. This article guides the reader through the doctrinal and legislative frameworks, the organisational structure, and the facilities and capabilities of the Role 2 field hospital unit.

Evaluating the effectiveness of blood loss correction in victims with penetrating blast injuries at the stage of stabilization and preparation for aeromedical evacuation

Management strategies in patients with hemorrhagic shock are still of scientific and clinical interest, as improved approaches to rapid and effective stabilization will lead to increased survival outcomes. The purpose of the study: to compare the effectiveness of blood loss correction in victims with penetrating blast injuries at the stage of stabilization and preparation for aeromedical evacuation. Materials and methods. The study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 122 patients who were injured while performing combat missions in the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation for 3 years (2016–2019). Victims with combat trauma were divided into three groups. All injured servicemen were evacuated by helicopters from field hospitals in order to transfer them to the stage of providing specialized medical care. The degree of shock was determined using Allgower’s method of arithmetic calculation of the shock index and according to the data of laboratory studies. Fluid therapy at the stage of stabilization was carried out with colloid and crystalloid solutions, which, in case of a massive blood loss, were supplemented by transfusion of the fresh frozen plasma and packed red blood cells according to the traditional scheme of replenishing blood loss at the stage of provi­ding medical assistance. Results. As a result of stabilization measures, a decrease in heart rate by 13.5 % (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.2–15.7 %) was observed at the stage of preparation for aeromedical evacuation. An increase in systolic blood pressure was detected in the studied groups. The average blood pressure in victims with blast thoraco-abdominal injuries during hospitalization was 81.5 (71–93) mmHg, and after stabilization measures, it increased to 88 (82–93) mmHg. A significant difference was found between the groups of patients with blast trauma and traumatic brain injuries at the stages of the study (p < 0.05). As a result of stabilization measures, it was possible to reduce shock index in the studied groups by 23.7 % (95% CI 19.2–29.5 %). Conclusions. The use of a set of stabilization measures in patients with penetrating blast injuries at the stage of hospitalization made it possible to improve vital functions by 23.7 % (95% CI 19.2–29.5 %), and to reduce shock index.

Hip Spica Table: A Technical Note.

Hip spica is a widely used treatment modality in the management of various paediatric orthopaedic conditions. A standardized hip spica table is not universally available and various centerres have devised their own designs. In collaboration with the local engineering team, we have designed a light weight yet sturdy, economical and portable hip spica table. Components of the spica table and their measurements are described. Technique of mounting and unmounting the patient off the table has been discussed. We have applied the hip spica using the current design in 141 children between 2009 and 2023. The same table has been used for the children aged 6 months to 10 years. We have not experienced any table breakage during spica application. The acrylic sheet was changed only once during the study period due to attrition. Our design has been used successfully at our center for more than 14 years. It is simple, economical, portable and durable. It can be used in dedicated pediatric orthopedic centers and can be carried easily to the field hospitals. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-023-00935-1.

The nonexcludable function of sports stadiums in climate-changed cities

The unrelenting threat of climate change and extreme weather events on human settlements has prompted urban planners and public policymakers to develop robust climate mitigation and adaptation strategies for their cities. As part of these measures, they may identify existing or proposed infrastructure that could serve residents during a public emergency (e.g. as shelters). One such candidate is the modern professional sports stadium, which has demonstrated its versatility over the past several years by serving as field hospitals, COVID-19 testing and mass vaccination sites, and municipal voting centers. In this commentary, we consider the essential contribution sports stadiums may make to cities and regions impacted by extreme weather and climate change. Specifically, we examine the utility of a publicly funded stadium as a shelter in response to large-scale disasters. As part of our analysis, we identify the structural, geographical, organizational, and logistical factors that impact the feasibility of this proposal.

Chest Radiograph appearance of SARS-Cov-2 Infection: A Prospective Observational Study of Ambulatory Patients from a Field Hospital in a Middle-Income Country

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on both individuals and society, resulting in widespread illness and death, as well as a global economic downturn. In order to examine chest X-rays (CXRs) of ambulatory patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in a field isolation center, our aim is to determine the proportion of patients with normal versus abnormal chest radiographs. Moreover, in cases where abnormal findings are present on the CXR, our goal is to document the distribution and patterns of these abnormalities.
 Method: This prospective observational study was conducted on a cohort of 510 consecutive COVID-19 patients who tested positive for the virus and presented at the field isolation center between March 15th and May 15th, 2020. The study encompassed patients of all ages and both genders, with the exclusion criteria being patients requiring intensive care and those with unreadable CXRs due to technical limitations. The review of CXRs was performed by two certified radiologists, ensuring reliable and accurate assessments. Age, gender, and X-ray findings were noted.
 Results: Among the total of 510 patients included in the study, 463 (90.8%) were male, while 47 (9.2%) were female. The age range of the study population spanned from 12 to 64 years, with the majority falling within the 23-33 year age group. During the review of CXRs, 433 (84.90%) were classified as normal, while 77 (15.10%) were deemed abnormal. The most frequently observed abnormal pattern was ground glass opacification, accounting for 54.5% of the cases, followed by the reticular pattern at 45.5%.
 Conclusion: CXRs obtained from confirmed COVID-19 patients were normal in 85% of the patients. The most common abnormality seen in our study population was involvement of the lower lobes with patchy peripheral ground glass opacities or reticular shadowing, which was focal or multifocal in location.

Deployment of the French Civil Protection Field Hospital (ESCRIM) in Gölbaşi, Turkey after the February 2023 Earthquake: Lessons Learned.

Following the two earthquakes that occurred in Turkey on February 6, 2023 with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.5, causing over 50,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries, France proposed to deploy, via the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM), the French Civil Protection Field Hospital (ESCRIM [Élément de Sécurité Civile Rapide d'Intervention Médicale]): the French World Health Organization (WHO)-classified Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Level 2 (EMT2).After the acceptance from Turkey on February 8, a disaster assessment team (DAT) was sent on February 10, 2023. It was decided, with local health authorities (LHA), to set up the field hospital in Gölbaşi, Adiyaman Province where the State Hospital was closed due to a structural risk.Arriving in Gölbaşi on February 13 at 2:00am in -12°C (10°F) temperatures, the detachment had no choice but to begin setting up the base of operation (BoO). At dawn, the cold was so intense that one doctor suffered from frostbite. Once the BoO was installed, the team set up the hospital tents. From 11:00am, the sun melted the snow and the ground became very muddy. The objective being to open the hospital as soon as possible, installation of the hospital continued, and it opened on February 14 at 12:00pm/noon, less than 36 hours after on-site arrival.This article describes the mechanics of setting up an EMT-2 in a cold climate, the many problems encountered, and the solutions imagined and proposed.

Location selection of field hospitals amid COVID-19 considering effectiveness and fairness: A case study of Florida

The world has experienced an unprecedented global health crisis since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, which inflicted massive burdens on countries' healthcare systems. During the peaks of the pandemic, the shortages of intensive care unit (ICU) beds illustrated a critical vulnerability in the fight. Many individuals suffering the effects of COVID-19 had difficulty accessing ICU beds due to insufficient capacity. Unfortunately, it has been observed that many hospitals do not have enough ICU beds, and the ones with ICU capacity might not be accessible to all population strata. To remedy this going forward, field hospitals could be established to provide additional capacity in helping emergency health situations such as pandemics; however, location selection is a crucial decision ultimately for this purpose. As such, we consider finding new field hospital locations to serve the demand within certain travel-time thresholds, while accounting for the presence of vulnerable populations. A multi-objective mathematical model is proposed in this paper that maximizes the minimum accessibility and minimizes the travel time by integrating the Enhanced 2-Step Floating Catchment Area (E2SFCA) method and travel-time-constrained capacitated p-median model. This is performed to decide on the locations of field hospitals, while a sensitivity analysis addresses hospital capacity, demand level, and the number of field hospital locations. Four counties in Florida are selected to implement the proposed approach. Findings can be used to identify the ideal location(s) of capacity expansions concerning the fair distribution of field hospitals in terms of accessibility with a specific focus on vulnerable strata of the population.

Effects of Three-Hour Wearing Personal Protective Equipment on Heart Rate Variability in Healthcare Workers for the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), an essential shield to protect healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been reported to affect their heart rate variability (HRV). To investigate the changes of very short-term heart rate variability in HCWs after three hours of wearing PPE to treat COVID-19 patients at different working times and intensities, and related factors. Sixty-five healthy HCWs were enrolled at the Number 2 Infectious Field Hospital (formed by Military Hospital 103), Vietnam. Two-minute 12-lead electrocardiograms were recorded before wearing and after removing PPE. After three hours of wearing PPE, the mean heart rate of HCWs increased (p = 0.048) meanwhile, the oxygen saturation decreased significantly (p = 0.035). Standard deviation of all normal to normal intervals (SDNN), mean intervals RR (mean NN), and root mean square successive difference (rMSSD) after wearing PPE was also reduced significantly. SDNN, Mean NN, and rMSSD decreased as the working intensity increased (as in mild, moderate, and severe patient departments). In univariate regression analysis, logSDNN, logmean NN and logrMSSD were positively correlated with SpO2 and QT interval (r = 0.14, r = 0.31, r = 0.25; r = 0.39, r = 0.77, r = 0.73, respectively) and were negatively correlated with ambient temperature inside PPE (r = -0.41, r = -0.405, r = -0.25, respectively) while logmean NN and log rMSSD were negatively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.43, r = -0.39, respectively). In multivariable regression analysis, logSDNN and logmean NN were negatively correlated to ambient temperature inside PPE (r = -0.34, r = -0.18, respectively). Time-domain heart rate variability decreased after wearing PPE. Time-domain HRV parameters were related to ambient temperature inside PPE, diastolic blood pressure, QT interval, and SpO2.

"Health Care Workers’ Perceived Risk Confronting Covid-19: A Survey from the Bergamo Field Hospital"

"Health Care Workers’ Perceived Risk Confronting Covid-19: A Survey from the Bergamo Field Hospital"

An Overview of 10 Years of Activity of a Molecular Laboratory for Buruli Ulcer Diagnosis at a Field Hospital in Benin.

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent morbidity. In November 2012, a field laboratory fully equipped for the rapid on-site quantitative PCR (qPCR) diagnosis of M. ulcerans was established at the Buruli ulcer treatment center (CDTLUB) center in Pobè Benin, a region where BU is endemic. We describe its first 10 years of activity and its gradual evolution into an expert laboratory for BU diagnosis. From 2012 to 2022, the laboratory analyzed 3,018 samples from patients attending consultations for suspected BU at the CDTLUB in Pobè. Ziehl-Neelsen staining and qPCR targeting the IS2404 sequence were performed. Since 2019, the laboratory has also received and analyzed 570 samples from other centers. The laboratory confirmed the diagnosis of BU by qPCR for 39.7% samples: M. ulcerans DNA was detected in 34.7% of swabs, 47.2% of all fine needle aspiration samples (FNA) and 44.6% of all skin biopsy specimens. Positive Ziehl-Neelsen staining results were obtained for 19.0% samples. Bacterial load, estimated by qPCR, was significantly greater for the Ziehl-Neelsen-positive samples than for Ziehl-Neelsen-negative samples, and detection rates were highest for FNA samples. Overall, 26.3% of the samples received from other centers were positive for BU. Most of these samples were sent by the CDTLUBs of Lalo, Allada, and Zagnanado, Benin. The establishment of the laboratory in the CDTLUB of Pobè has been a huge success. Optimal patient care depends on the close proximity of a molecular biology structure to BU treatment centers. Finally, FNA should be promoted among caregivers. IMPORTANCE Here, we describe the first 10 years of activity at a field laboratory established at the Buruli ulcer treatment center (CDTLUB) in Pobè, Benin, a country in which Mycobacterium ulcerans is endemic. Between 2012 and 2022, the laboratory analyzed 3,018 samples from patients consulting the CDTLUB of Pobè with a suspected clinical BU. Ziehl-Neelsen staining and qPCR targeting the IS2404 sequence were performed. In total, 39.7% of samples tested positive by qPCR and 19.0% tested positive by Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Detection rates were highest for FNA samples, and the bacterial loads estimated by qPCR were significantly higher for Ziehl-Neelsen-positive samples than for Ziehl-Neelsen-negative samples. Since 2019, the laboratory has also analyzed 570 samples received from outside the CDTLUB of Pobè, 26.3% of which were positive for BU. Most of these samples were sent by the CDTLUBs of Lalo, Allada, and Zagnanado in Benin. The establishment of the laboratory in the CDTLUB of Pobè has been a huge success, with major benefits for both the medical staff and patients. Our findings illustrate that the usefulness and feasibility of having a diagnostic center in rural Africa, where the disease is endemic, is a key part of optimal patient care, and that FNA should be promoted to increase detection rates.