Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Iona Munjal; Belinda Ostrowsky

doi:10.1128/9781555817381.ch9

Chapter 9 : Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Authors: Iona Munjal, Belinda Ostrowsky

Content Type: Reference

Publication Year: 2015

Category: Clinical Microbiology

Book DOI: 10.1128/9781555817381

Chapter DOI: 10.1128/9781555817381.ch9

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Abstract:

This chapter reviews concepts associated with infectious disease outbreaks, including disease surveillance, mechanisms used to detect outbreaks, and the epidemiological steps used to investigate an outbreak. We catalogue both routine and novel laboratory detection methods that can be used in an outbreak setting and examples in which laboratory testing played a central role. We introduce resources that readers can access when facing a known or novel pathogen in the context of an outbreak, including agencies that perform sophisticated surveillance and outbreak investigation. Emphasis is placed on the importance of thinking about the world health community with the stark rise in globalization, and the epidemiological players at each level from local to international are listed. In past editions of the text, the focus was largely foodborne outbreaks; this chapter expands the focus to include many different types of pathogens and settings for outbreaks.

Citation: Munjal I, Ostrowsky B. 2015. Investigation of Disease Outbreaks, p 120-130. In Jorgensen J, Pfaller M, Carroll K, Funke G, Landry M, Richter S, Warnock D (ed), Manual of Clinical Microbiology, Eleventh Edition. ASM Press, Washington, DC. doi: 10.1128/9781555817381.ch9

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Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

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Epidemic curve examples.doi:10.1128/9781555817381.ch9.f1

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FIGURE 1

Epidemic curve examples.doi:10.1128/9781555817381.ch9.f1

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Tables

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

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TABLE 1

Key agencies involved in outbreak response

TABLE 1

Key agencies involved in outbreak response

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TABLE 2

Infectious diseases designated as notifiable at the national level a

TABLE 2

Infectious diseases designated as notifiable at the national level a

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TABLE 3

Steps in an outbreak investigation

TABLE 3

Steps in an outbreak investigation

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TABLE 4

Laboratory studies for specific outbreak syndromes a

TABLE 4

Laboratory studies for specific outbreak syndromes a

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TABLE 5

Examples of the laboratory techniques and control interventions used in significant outbreaks by pathogen type

TABLE 5

Examples of the laboratory techniques and control interventions used in significant outbreaks by pathogen type

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TABLE 6

Steps of an outbreak investigation using fungal meningitis cases linked to contaminated steroid injections from a 2012 multistate outbreak a

TABLE 6

Steps of an outbreak investigation using fungal meningitis cases linked to contaminated steroid injections from a 2012 multistate outbreak a