Preventing the spread of infectious diseases/ Outbreak management

When there is (a possible) outbreak of an infectious disease, an Outbreak Management Team (OMT) may be formed. This may be the case, for example, in the event of an outbreak of scabies, measles, whooping cough, or MRSA.

The OMT includes at least the following participants:

• medical microbiologist
• infection prevention expert
• attending physician
• company physician
• manager(s) of relevant departments

Depending on the situation, consider involving the following disciplines:

• Communications advisor
• facilities department

• Mapping the epidemiology (consider, for example: has the diagnosis been confirmed, what is the incubation period, what is the contagious period) and source investigation.
• Mapping the (unprotected) contacts.
• Formulating actions with regard to contacts: consider the possibility of prophylaxis, use of personal protective equipment, testing policy, and contact tracing.
• Formulating actions with regard to isolation, closing (parts of) departments.
• Formulating a policy for visitors.
• Internal and external communication.
• Assess whether it is advisable to inform division management or the board of directors.

• GDPR/privacy: take into account the composition of the OMT and do not share privacy-sensitive information (e.g., personal data) with OMT participants who do not need it or are not entitled to it
• If an employee has (probably) contracted an infection at work, this constitutes an occupational disease and the company doctor must report this to the NCvB (Dutch Center for Occupational Diseases) (reporting occupational disease).