Outbreak Policy

Introduction

This document sets out the Trust’s plans for dealing with outbreaks of infectious disease, where collaboration and co-ordination within the Trust and with other agencies is required in order to ensure speedy and effective remedial action.

Overall Aim

The major objectives of this policy are to ensure prompt recognition of an outbreak of a healthcare associated infection (HAI) or a communicable disease, to control further spread, prevent recurrence and to maintain satisfactory communication with other agencies having a legitimate interest in the outbreak.

Guiding Principles

• The definition of an outbreak depends on the organism and type of infection.
• The Director of Infection and Prevention Control (DIPC) is the person with the responsibility for deciding whether an outbreak exists, the extent of the outbreak and the action/s required.
• The DIPC will decide whether an Outbreak Control Group (OCG) needs to be convened.
• Arrangements to control the outbreak will be managed by the OCG.
• The OCG consists of named postholders who are responsible for clearly defined aspects of the outbreak.
• In the absence of the DIPC the Deputy DIPC (the Consultant Nurse Infection Control) or another Consultant Microbiologist will lead the outbreak investigation. In the event of a predominantly community-associated outbreak the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) will take the lead.

Policy Details

See also:

• Major Outbreak Plan
• ASPH Major Incident Plan
• Surrey & Sussex / HPU Major Outbreak Plan
• ASPH Pandemic Flu Plan