What to do in the case of outbreaks from infection control point of view

1. Define: is that an outbreak? Compare the present rate with the rate from surveillance data.
2. Define the case: clinical or microbiological, or both?
3. Ask the lab technician to keep the materials, in case for future typing.
4. Perform literature search. Has this outbreak occurs before?
5. Calculate the numbers.
6. Perform a case-control study, in order to find the risk factor for the outbreak.
7. When it is needed, perform typing.
8. Act, it can be based on previous experiences of the departements.
9. Communicate the action with the wards.
10. Measure and evaluate the effect of the action.
11. Publish: other hospitals can learn from your experience too...