Policy for managing a community infectious disease outbreak.

OBJECTIVE

To identify guidelines for the management of an infectious disease emergency.

SETTING

In February 1990, the discovery of hepatitis A in three foodhandlers prompted city and state health officials to offer mass immunization to residents of several counties in eastern Pennsylvania. In an attempt to facilitate the immunization effort, local hospitals were asked to establish and staff clinics to supplement the efforts of the health bureaus.

RESULTS

Over a four-week period, combined efforts resulted in approximately 10,000 people receiving immunization with immune serum globulin (IgG).

CONCLUSIONS

This was one of several infectious disease emergencies the community has faced in the recent past. Recognizing that future incidents of this nature are likely to occur, one 435-bed community teaching hospital devised an infectious disease emergency policy that allows for rapid deployment of personnel and services in the event of an infectious disease outbreak.