he National Library of Medicine's Index Section recently issued "Technical Memorandum 432: Bioterrorism and indexing since 9/11." This document provides guidance to NLM indexers on how to index MEDLINE citations to articles about the events of September 11, 2001 and bioterrorism. Although Memorandum 432 is used by indexers, the guidance may also be helpful to searchers looking for information on these subjects.

Citations to articles about the plane crashes will be indexed with the following Medical Subject Heading (MeSH^®) descriptors:
Terrorism and Aircraft and
New York City or Virginia or Pennsylvania

If rescue operations are discussed in the article, the MeSH descriptors Disasters or Rescue Work may also be assigned to the citation.

If the article discusses identifying the casualties, Forensic Anthropology will be assigned to the citation. (Human Identification is an entry term (a see reference) to the MeSH descriptor Forensic Anthropology.) If DNA fingerprinting techniques are used to identify the remains, the MeSH descriptor DNA Fingerprinting will be assigned to the citation.

Citations to articles about the psychological effects of September 11th and later events on persons other than victims will be indexed with the following MeSH descriptors:
Terrorism or Bioterrorism and
Stress, Psychological

Articles discussing the victims' families may be indexed with Life Change Events. (Stressful Events is an entry term (a see reference) to the MeSH descriptor Life Change Events.

Citations to articles about recent anthrax incidents will be indexed with the following MeSH descriptors:
Bioterrorism and
Anthrax

If the anthrax transmission is discussed, the subheading transmission will be coordinated with the Anthrax descriptor (i.e., Anthrax/transmission).

Citations to articles about inhalation or pulmonary anthrax will be indexed with the following MeSH descriptors:
Anthrax and
Respiratory Tract Infections

Citations to articles about cutaneous or skin anthrax will be indexed with the following MeSH descriptors:
Anthrax and
Skin Diseases, Bacterial

The causative organism will be indexed as:
Bacillus Anthracis and
Spores, Bacterial

If the article is about the detection or demonstration of these spores in offices or post offices, the subheading isolation & purification will be coordinated with the organism (i.e., Bacillus Anthracis/isolation & purification). The MeSH descriptors Postal Service, Occupational Exposure or Occupational Diseases may also be used, when appropriate.

Closure of the Congressional offices will be indexed with Government Agencies coordinated with the appropriate geographic term.

Citations to articles about other forms of possible bioterrorism will be indexed under the disease and Bioterrorism (e.g., Smallpox and Bioterrorism). If the article discusses a particular organism, its MeSH descriptor will also be used (e.g., Variola virus).

Indexing the Events of September 11, 2001 and Bioterrorism for MEDLINE^®. NLM Tech Bull. 2001 Nov-Dec;(323):e4.