Chapters > 2 - Fundamental Concepts

Fundamental Concepts

Learn basic concepts and trends in healthcare delivery, HAI/AR surveillance, outbreak detection, and response.

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Last updated: June 30, 2024
Published: December 26, 2024

Chapter Summary

In Chapter 2, Fundamental Concepts, we review concepts related to healthcare and public health surveillance as well as trends in outbreak detection and response. 

As healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance (HAI/AR) surveillance improves and outbreaks are recognized earlier, the public health and healthcare communities are better positioned to reduce patient harm from HAIs, AR pathogens, and healthcare outbreaks. 

The ultimate goal of healthcare outbreak response is to rapidly detect and respond to potential outbreaks, ensuring that any unsafe practices are discovered and corrected before further harm can occur.

The chapter contains information on: 

  • Healthcare settings investigators may encounter as part of an HAI/AR outbreak response 
  • Changes to healthcare delivery, regulations, funding, and public health capacity over time that have impacted HAI/AR surveillance practices and outbreak response activities
  • Trends in surveillance, including descriptions of systems used to identify potential outbreaks as well as types of outbreaks and other events to which public health routinely responds 

Change Log

As advances occur in outbreak protocols, this guidance document will be updated. Previous changes can be tracked below:

  • 2nd Edition – Published June 2024
  • 1st Edition – Published October 2022
  • URLs in this document are valid as of April 29, 2024.

Chapter References

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