Outbreak Investigations - ANSWER An outbreak is defined as an increase over the expected
occurrence of an event: ➢exception - one case of an unusual disease. ➢Pseudo-outbreak
rise in test results without clinical disease.
What is an Outbreak - ANSWER A sudden rise in the incidence of a disease • An increase in
the incidence of a disease above what is normally expected • Clusters of infections are
considered or can be referred to as outbreaks. No significant difference between the two
terms. ➢ Both are problems ➢ Both need to be investigated and controlled. • Outbreak
generally refers to situations in which there is clinical disease or clinically relevant culture
results. • Pseudo-outbreak is generally used to refer to situations in which there is a rise in
positive culture results but without evidence of disease in the patients
Epidemic - ANSWER refers to an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease
above what is normally expected in that population in that area. An outbreak is called an
epidemic when there is a sudden increase in cases
Outbreak - ANSWER carries the same definition of epidemic, but is often used for a more
limited geographic area.
Cluster - ANSWER refers to an aggregation of cases grouped in place and time that are
suspected to be greater than the number expected, even though the expected number may
not be known.
Pandemic - ANSWER refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or
continents, usually affecting a large number of people.
,affects large number of people and the disease spreads across several countries increasing
the number of people infected.
Endemic: disease or condition regularly found among particular people or in certain areas. -
ANSWER Endemic problems represent the majority of HAIs Device-associated infections
(CLABSI, CAUTI,VAP) Procedure-associated infections (SSI) Adherence problems (Antimicrobial
stewardship, hand hygiene)
How Are Outbreaks Found? - ANSWER Surveillance: plays a critical role in identifying outbreaks,
emerging infectious diseases, antibiotic-resistant organisms, and bioterrorist events so that
infection prevention measures can be instituted.
Components of Outbreak Investigation - ANSWER Confirm • Alert • Literature review •
Case definition • Methodology • Line list and epidemic curve • Observation • Consider
environmental sampling • Implement
Steps of an Outbreak Investigation - ANSWER Verify the diagnosis and confirm the outbreak •
Define a case and conduct case findings • Tabulate and orient data: Time, Place, Person •
Take immediate control measures
Verify the diagnosis and confirm the Outbreak - ANSWER Confirm laboratory testing • Rule out
misdiagnoses or laboratory errors
Define a Case and Conduct Case Finding - ANSWER 1. Develop a specific case definition using: ▪
Symptoms or laboratory results ▪ Time period ▪ Location 2. Conduct surveillance using case
definition ▪ Existing surveillance ▪ Active surveillance (e.g. review medical records) 3. Interview
case-patients if necessary
Tabulate and orient data - ANSWER Create a patient line listing • Person - Who was infected? -
What do the cases have in common? • Place - Where were they infected? - May be useful to
draw a map • Time - When were they infected? - Create epidemic curves or any other
important timelines (graphs are helpful)
,Formulate and test hypothesis - ANSWER Develop hypotheses - literature reviews of
previous outbreaks - interviews of several case-patients or chart review • Conduct an
analytic study to test hypotheses - Retrospective cohort study - Case-control study
Plan and execute additional studies - ANSWER Environmental sampling - Collect appropriate
samples - Allow epidemiological data to guide testing - If analytic study results are
conclusive, don't wait for positive samples before implementing prevention
Communicate findings - ANSWER Determine who needs to know • Determine how information
will be communicated • Communicate progress and findings • Summarize investigation, make
recommendations, and disseminate report to all participants
Follow Up Investigation - ANSWER Refine case definition • Continue case finding and
surveillance • Review control measures • Consider analytical study • Prepare and
disseminate reports
Surveillance of HAIs - ANSWER • CLABSI, CAUTI, VAE & SSI must meet NHSN surveillance
definition to be determined as CO or HO. • Surgical surveillance for SSI should be conducted
using the operative procedure category. - All procedures included in the NHSN monthly
surveillance plan are followed for superficial incisional, deep incisional, and organ/space SSI
events and the type of SSI reported must reflect the deepest tissue level where SSI criteria
are met during the surveillance period
CDC Definitions of HAI: An infection that meets the following criteria: - ANSWER 1. Not
present or incubating on admission 2. Develops during course of receiving treatment for other
conditions 3. Incubating at time of admission related to previous hospitalization at the same
facility or a procedure during a previous hospitalization 4. HCW infection acquired while
performing their duties within a healthcare setting 5. Occur during care in any healthcare
facility
Community vs Iatrogenic - ANSWER Community - Present or incubating upon admission and not
associated with a prior admission or procedure • Iatrogenic - - arising as a result of actions or
treatment of a provider. Basically it is the state of ill health or the adverse outcome resulting
, from a medical intervention, or lack thereof. - Three types of latrogenesis: clinical, social and
cultural. - Secondary condition arising from the treatment of a primary condition (?? HAI or
Community Acquired)
CAUTI - ANSWER Standardized set of surveillance definitions which do not necessarily meet
the same definition as clinical definitions. • Example of NHSN Standardized definition:
Catheter associated UTI (CAUTI): A UTI where an indwelling urinary catheter was in place for
>2 calendar days on the date of event, with day of device placement being Day 1* an
indwelling urinary catheter was in place on the date of event or the day before. If an indwelling
urinary catheter was in place for more than 2 consecutive days in an inpatient location then
removed, the date of event for the UTI must be the day of device discontinuation or the next
day for the UTI to be catheter associated
VAE - ANSWER VAE: VAEs are identified by using a combination of objective criteria: deterioration
in respiratory status after a period of stability or improvement on the ventilator, evidence of
infection or inflammation, and laboratory evidence of respiratory infection.
clean definition - ANSWER - Remove visible foreign material "if it isn't clean it can't be
sterilized or high level disinfected"
decontamination - ANSWER -Remove pathogenic organisms and make equipment safe
for handling
Sterilization - ANSWER Kill all microbes
Sanitize - ANSWER Reduce microbial load on inanimate objects to relatively safe level
Important difference: disinfection - ANSWER Killing all microbiologic organisms with the
exception of spores
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