About the Outbreak Response Protocol
The Outbreak Response Protocol provides a structured approach for hospitals and healthcare facilities to respond to outbreaks of infectious pathogens, primarily bacterial, mycobacterial, and fungal, though it may also be applied to viral outbreaks. Developed as part of the CLUSTER Trial (Cluster Linkage Using Statistics to Trigger and Evaluate Response), this protocol offers step-by-step guidance on initial actions and escalating tiers of intervention based on ongoing assessments and outbreak progression.
Because this protocol is detailed and data-driven, users are encouraged to begin with the Quick Guides for Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions, followed by the Outbreak Response Activation Checklist. For those unfamiliar with the surveillance tools referenced in the protocol, such as WHONET and SaTScan, we recommend visiting their official websites for setup and usage guidance. These tools support early outbreak detection and enhance the impact of the response.
Getting started tip: Start with the “Initial Outbreak Alert” checklist and complete the associated practice assessments. Then proceed to select an intervention based on your results. Use the toolkit’s forms and image guides to support accurate monitoring and response documentation.
