Mini course · Advanced level
Outbreak Investigation Basics
Detect, investigate and control outbreaks in healthcare facilities, step by step.
What is Outbreak Investigation Basics?
Outbreaks in healthcare facilities can spread quickly between vulnerable patients and staff. A systematic investigation identifies the source, stops transmission and prevents recurrence. This course follows the standard investigation steps: confirming an outbreak, defining cases, case finding, building a line list and epidemic curve, describing by person, place and time, forming hypotheses, implementing control measures, communicating and writing a final report.
- Duration
- 1.7 hours
- Lessons
- 5
- Level
- Advanced
- Format
- Online, self-paced
What you'll be able to do
- Determine whether a described situation represents an outbreak
- Write a clear case definition
- Build a line list and epidemic curve from described data
- Analyse cases by person, place and time
- Formulate hypotheses about source and transmission
- Recommend and evaluate control measures
Who this course is for
Course content
5 lessons · 1.7 hours total · free preview available
1Is It an Outbreak?
18 minFree preview· Course content
Is It an Outbreak?
Baselines, clusters and confirmation.
2Case Definitions and Finding
20 min· Course content
Case Definitions and Finding
Available after you enroll.
3Describing the Outbreak
24 min· Course content
Describing the Outbreak
Available after you enroll.
4Hypotheses and Control
24 min· Course content
Hypotheses and Control
Available after you enroll.
5Communication and Reporting
18 min· Course content
Communication and Reporting
Available after you enroll.
Earn a credential employers can check
Every AIHCM credential has a unique ID that anyone can verify online in seconds.
Issued: on completion
How it works
- Finish all 5 lessons at your own pace.
- Get your digital credential with a unique ID.
- Share it — employers can verify it at aihcm.us.
Questions people ask
Do I need epidemiology knowledge first?
Epidemiology Basics for Healthcare Workers is recommended.
Does it cover reporting to public health authorities?
It explains the principle; notification requirements vary by country.
Is laboratory typing covered?
At an overview level, focused on how lab results support investigations.
Are case studies included?
Yes. A healthcare outbreak scenario runs through the course.