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Policy for Managing a Community Infectious Disease Outbreak

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2023

Ruth M. Frace  and
Jeffrey A. Jahre
Ruth M. Frace*
Affiliation:
St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Jeffrey A. Jahre
Affiliation:
St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
*
St. Luke's Hospital, Infection Control Department, Bethlehem, PA 18015
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Abstract

Objective:

To identify guidelines for the management of an infectious disease emergency.

Setting:

In February 1990, the discovery of hepatitis A in three foodhandlers prompted city and state health officials to offer mass immunization to residents of several counties in eastern Pennsylvania. In an attempt to facilitate the immunization effort, local hospitals were asked to establish and staff clinics to supplement the efforts of the health bureaus.

Results:

Over a four-week period, combined efforts resulted in approximately 10,000 people receiving immunization with immune serum globulin (IgG).

Conclusions:

This was one of several infectious disease emergencies the community has faced in the recent past. Recognizing that future incidents of this nature are likely to occur, one 435-bed community teaching hospital devised an infectious disease emergency policy that allows for rapid deployment of personnel and services in the event of an infectious disease outbreak.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 12 , Issue 6 , June 1991 , pp. 364 - 367
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1991

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References

1. Centers for Disease Control. Immunoglobulins for protection against viral hepatitis. MMWR. 1981;30:423.Google Scholar
2. Mandell, G, Douglas, R, Bennett, J. Principles and Practices of Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone Inc; 1990.Google Scholar
3. Standards for Infection Control. Accreditation Manual for Hospitals. Chicago, Ill: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; 1990.Google Scholar