New CDC-supported document lays out infectious disease response guide for hospitals

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has published a new guidance document to aid hospitals’ response to disease outbreaks.

The new guide, published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and titled, Outbreak Response and Incident Management, shows epidemiologists how they can apply and utilize emergency response structures in the United States, as well as groups and existing frameworks at all levels of the healthcare sector. It also gives them a list of resources essential to outbreak response. While many healthcare facilities can make use of it, it should be noted it was meant specifically for acute care hospitals.

“This guidance details the role of the healthcare epidemiologist as an expert and leader supporting hospitals in preparing for, stopping, and recovering from infectious diseases crises,” said David Banach, co-chair of the writing panel and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut and Hospital Epidemiologist at UConn Health. “Armed with the resources to develop and support key activities, healthcare epidemiologists can utilize their skills and expertise in investigation and response to infectious disease outbreaks within a hospital’s incident command system.”

With the recognition that pathogens will always be a threat, the paper’s main goal is to develop tools and strategies for prevention and management that will be ongoing, with epidemiologists taking the lead. To build on the points laid out by the document, SHEA will follow up with an outbreak response workshop in January.