Outbreaks and infection control breaches in health care settings: Considerations for patient notification

The Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides assistance to health departments and health care facilities investigating potential outbreaks and infection control breaches.1-3 These consultations typically involve assessments regarding potential risk of pathogen transmission and need for patient notification (ie, informing affected individuals about the outbreak or breach).4-6 These assessments can be challenging. The available information might not be sufficient to clearly characterize patient harms and infection risks.

The Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides assistance to health departments and health care facilities investigating potential outbreaks and infection control breaches.1-3 These consultations typically involve assessments regarding potential risk of pathogen transmission and need for patient notification (ie, informing affected individuals about the outbreak or breach).4-6 These assessments can be challenging. The available information might not be sufficient to clearly characterize patient harms and infection risks.


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