Outbreaks may represent a single case of a disease (e.g., legionella) or an increase in the occurrence of a particular illness above what is expected or usual within the long-term care (LTC) facility. Early identification of an outbreak and prompt reporting to public health authorities is essential, in addition to the development of an action plan for response and management. During this 60-minute webinar, Joan N. Hebden, MS, RN, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, and Marko Predic, MS, CIC, FAPIC, will provide an overview of the phases of an outbreak investigation and the tasks relevant to each phase in the context of two commonly seen diseases in the LTC setting. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and norovirus are challenging pathogens to control in congregate settings and may require outbreak investigations. Areas of emphasis will include confirmation of the diagnosis using rapid detection methods, continual communication with a public health partner, and the importance of a post-outbreak debriefing session to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the response.
After participating in this session, learners will be able to: