Background

• Outbreak investigation

• Communication and coordination

• Outbreak identification

• Laboratory methods and surveillance

• Case definitions

• Case finding

• Questionnaire design

• Case interviewing

• Data management

• Line lists

• Descriptive epidemiology

• Epidemic curves

• Epidemiological summaries

• Hypothesis generation

• Analytic studies

• Weight of evidence

• Prevention and control

• Post-outbreak

Recognizing, Containing and Reporting Communicable Disease Outbreaks

The facility must know how to recognize and contain infectious disease outbreaks. An outbreak is the occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group of people over a particular period of time.31 If a condition is rare or has serious health implications, an outbreak may involve only one case. While a single case of a rare infectious condition or one that has serious health implications may or may not constitute an outbreak, facilities should not wait for the definition of an outbreak to act. For example, one case of laboratory confirmed influenza in a resident should alert the facility to begin an outbreak investigation. If an outbreak is identified, the facility must:

• Take the appropriate steps to diagnose and manage cases, implement appropriate precautions, and prevent further transmission of the disease as well as documentation of follow-up activity in response; and

• Comply with state and local public health authority requirements for identification, reporting, and containing communicable diseases and outbreaks.

NOTE: Some states have specific regulations regarding responding to and reporting outbreaks that must be included in the IPCP.

Outbreak Tool Kits by Suspect Pathogen

Legionellosis

All US states have a reportable diseases list. It is the responsibility of the health care provider, not the patient, to report cases of these diseases. Many diseases on the list must also be reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Reportable diseases are divided into several groups:

• Mandatory written reporting: A report of the disease must be made in writing. Examples are gonorrhea and salmonellosis.

• Mandatory reporting by telephone: The provider must make a report by phone. Examples are rubeola (measles) and pertussis (whooping cough).

• Report of total number of cases. Examples are chickenpox and influenza.

  Find your State Reporting requirements here