Outbreak Investigation

Introduction

Date of Last Review 3/16/10

Date of Last Review 10/18/10

Date of Last Review 10/31/11
SME: Infection Control Manager

This topic provides guidance to the Infection Control Practitioner and the Infection Control Committee in the investigation of a suspected outbreak of a communicable disease.

Notification

This table lists who to notify for each type of disease outbreak:

Type of Outbreak	Description	Who to Notify
Community Acquired	Examples: Possible foodborne outbreak, measles	Health authorities
Nosocomial	Investigated when two or more cases appear to be epidemiologically related	Infection Control Committee Chairman Appropriate Department Managers Texas Department of Health as required

Investigating

The Infection Control Committee follows these steps to investigate a suspected outbreak of communicable disease:

Step	Action
1	Define a case based on the following common factors: Population risk factors: Age Race Sex Symptoms Clinical indicators Example: Lab results
2	Define the population at risk using the following information: People Example: All male patients Place Example: Hospital wing Time Example: Month Practitioner Other variables dependent on the situation
3	Define the scope of the problem. Examples: Possible outbreak within endemic levels Possible outbreak of epidemic levels
4	Derive an epidemic curve.
5	Issue an initial report to the hospital committees.
6	Institute interventions.

Taking action

The Infection Control Committee follows these steps to coordinate action after investigating a suspected outbreak of communicable disease:

Related standards

The Joint Commission : Surveillance, Prevention, and Control of Infection

If you have questions regarding the content of this site please contact the Policy and Procedure Committee. If you experience any technical problems please contact the MIS Department.