Communicable Disease and Health Protection Quarterly Review: July to September 2008+

摘要

Updated guidance on the management of outbreaks/ incidents of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at a local or regional level, with the details of national support arrangements, was posted on the Health Protection Agency (HPA) website in July. The document describes the main elements of a localized STI outbreak plan, including a flowchart for the identification, control and evaluation phases, and guidance on recognition/declaration of outbreaks, the process of convening outbreak teams, as well as the handling of less serious incidents. The document comprises two sections: principles of managing outbreaks/incidents of sexually transmitted infections; and guidelines for managing local acute STI outbreaks. The second, main section describes how different organisations responsible for the control of STIs-particularly genitourinary medicine services, consultants in communicable disease control and directors of public health in Primary Care Trusts-should collaborate with each other in the event of a suspected outbreak and, where appropriate, reach joint decisions on key issues.