Download `Outbreak management toolkit` or `preparation, preparation

48 Outbreak management toolkit or preparation, preparation, preparation.
Award category: Leadership Award through new Ways of Working
Contact: Infection Control, THO- North West
Should more than expected number of cases of infection with the same organism occur at a given time in a
particular location then an outbreak of that infective organism may have occurred. Prompt recognition of an
outbreak and implementation of containment an outbreak are vital in reducing the risk of transmission to others
within the facility.
In conjunction with the new THO-North West Outbreak Procedure (Procedure) a toolkit was developed.
This Procedure was developed following the amalgamation of previously separate identities that have combined
to form the THO North West. Previous procedures dealt with outbreaks of specific organisms. This new
Procedure is a generic procedure that is to be implemented in any outbreak situation regardless of organism
involved and can be utilised in a variety of locations throughout THO North West.
This new Procedure adopted a new approach of including user friendly resources as appendixes. These
resources were provided to allow the available staff to focus on the delivery of patient care rather than, for
example, the development, printing and laminating of posters amidst an outbreak. This new approach of
providing resources as in the appendices was extended further in the preparation of a ready to use tool kit for
each of the five THO-North West hospitals. This Procedure and toolkit provides THO North West staff
prompt access to the resources they would need to assist them in the management of an outbreak; regardless of
their location or the time of day. The Procedure complete with its appendices is available through the DHHS
intranet http://pssbpr-trim02/PandP/showdoc.aspx?recnum=P2012/0517-013 . Whilst the toolkit is stored in a
location that is available to clinical staff twenty four hours a day, seven days a week at each of the five hospital.
The resources included as appendixes to the Procedure included
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Outbreak Management Checklist
Line listings(for public health) and case record sheets to record details of each affected case
Draft staff memo
Draft media release
Post Outbreak debrief template
Sample posters
These resources included in the toolkit include
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a checklist which summarises the required steps of identification, verification, notification containment,
follow up and contact tracing of an outbreak;
multiple posters to display advising visitors and staff of the outbreak situation (and adhesive to put them
up with)
Individual case record sheets /line listing
Patient information brochures
Copy of THO-North West Outbreak Management Procedure.
An outbreak of an infectious agent/disease in a health care facility is an unplanned event, and hopefully a rare
event. Therefore most staff do not have expertise in effectively managing an outbreak situation, especially those
who may have this responsibility out of hours or in smaller facilities.
This new Procedure and new toolkit provides staff at each of the five hospitals access to current tools and
resources. Therefore promoting best practice management of an outbreak.