Outbreak Response in Healthcare Settings

1. Program overview

An outbreak is recognised late far more often than it is recognised early. This course covers the practical work of detection and response: what constitutes a cluster, how surveillance data signals one, immediate containment actions, cohorting and isolation decisions, case definition and line listing, communication with staff and families, and the process of declaring an outbreak over. It uses respiratory, gastrointestinal and multi-drug-resistant organism scenarios, and is written for the ward and department staff who usually notice first, not only for IPC teams.

2. Why this program

• Written for the staff who notice first.
• Covers detection, containment and investigation.
• Includes case definition and line listing technique.
• Communication treated as a core response activity.

3. Who it is for

Nurse · Physician · Quality Officer · Allied Health · Healthcare Manager · Lab Technician

4. Program objectives

• Define what constitutes an outbreak or cluster in a healthcare setting
• Identify the surveillance signals that precede formal recognition
• Apply immediate containment actions on suspicion of a cluster
• Construct a case definition and line list
• Describe cohorting, isolation and staff allocation decisions
• Plan communication to staff, patients and families during an outbreak

5. Learning outcomes

• Identify whether described cases constitute a cluster requiring escalation
• Apply immediate containment actions appropriate to the suspected organism
• Construct a case definition from a described scenario
• Differentiate cohorting from isolation and select appropriately
• Evaluate when an outbreak may be declared over
• Plan a communication approach for a described outbreak situation

6. Curriculum

1. Module 1: Recognising a Cluster

   • Recognising a Cluster

2. Module 2: Immediate Containment

   • Immediate Containment

3. Module 3: Case Definition and Line Listing

   • Case Definition and Line Listing

4. Module 4: Managing the Ongoing Response

   • Managing the Ongoing Response

5. Module 5: Communication and Closure

   • Communication and Closure

7. Duration and structure

Total study hours: 3 — 2.5h content + 0.5h assessment. Duration is expressed in study hours only.

9. What you receive

This certificate confirms completion of Outbreak Response in Healthcare Settings. Duration is expressed in study hours.

10. Delivery format

Self-paced · start any time · any device · lifetime access to the enrolled version.