Outbreak Report Assignment

Outbreak Report Assignment

Sharon Welburn, PhD

General Information

Due by 4:00pm Nov 11th

• ~5-7 pages
• May submit a draft for feedback by 4:00pm Oct 28th (must be submitted by this date/time)
• Feedback will be provided by 4:00pm Nov 4th

General Guidelines

Outbreak Report

• Written for consumption by health department employees
• Described clearly and concisely so that health department employees could replicate the methods
• Presented in an orderly fashion
• Sufficient detail should be included, while written concisely

General Guidelines

Outbreak Report Components

• Abstract
• Conference submission
• Introduction
• Background
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Recommendations

These guidelines were adapted from the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources, Bureau of Public Health https://oeps.wv.gov/toolkits/documents/reports/ob-report-writing-guidelines.pdf

Abstract

• Provides a short summary of report
• Worthy of submission to a Public Health conference (e.g. CSTE)
• Draft report first and then develop abstract (~300-400 words)
• Sections should include:
• Title
• Background
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion

Outbreak Report

Abstract

• Clear, concise, cohesive
• Sections tie back to each other
• Do results correspond with methods? Do results support the conclusion? Does the conclusion convey why the work was important?
• Avoid jargon and acronyms
• Past tense (generally)
• Active voice (e.g. “We investigated an outbreak of…”)
• No references, charts, or figures

Outbreak Report

Introduction

• Review your memo assignment for inspiration…
• Date and time notification was received by your agency
• Describe the context of the outbreak:
• Who? -> Population affected
• Where? -> Location / place / setting
• When? -> Time of onset
• What? -> Describe clinical findings
• Why? -> Suspected or known etiology or risk factors
• Date and time investigation was initiated by the agency
• Describe the primary objective(s) of the investigation

Outbreak Report

Background

• Provide a brief scientific background on the disease and/or suspected etiologic agent
• Cite your sources
• CDC webpages, CDC Red Book, FDA webpages are generally good sources

Outbreak Report

Methods

• Review lecture slides (section doesn’t have to be too long/detailed)
• Epidemiological/Analytical
• Case definition
• Data collection (how were cases and controls found?)
• Study design
• Data analysis methods
• Biological
• Type of clinical specimens and sources (How were specimens collected? Which specimens were tested?)
• Environmental
• Describe any environmental specimens collected

Outbreak Report

Results

• Review your Survey123 analysis assignment as the basis for this section
• But don’t use screenshot of your output- create new tables (may review suggested table formats in prior lecture slides)
• Epidemiological/Analytical
• Cases
• 1. Demographic data
• 2. Clinical data (symptoms, signs, duration of illness, incubation period)
• 3. Outcome of illness (hospitalization, death, chronic effects)
• Location of cases (facility, county, city, etc.)
• Epidemic curve and other graphs
• Compare characteristics of cases and controls in a table

Outbreak Report

Results

• Describe exposed population, if applicable
• Describe the results of analytical studies
• Biological
• Number and nature of specimens submitted for testing and results of laboratory testing
• Environmental
• Describe observations and pertinent findings from environmental investigation(s)
• Results of environmental testing (if any)

Outbreak Report

Discussion

• Analysis and interpretation of the investigation results and any conclusions drawn as a result of this investigation
• Discuss the main hypothesis
• Describe the likely causative agent and mode of transmission
• Describe the risk factors
• Explain what was done to control the outbreak
• Describe the conclusions and actions taken

Outbreak Report

Recommendations

• Discuss lessons learned and recommendations for controlling disease and/or preventing/mitigating exposure:
• Recommendations to improve investigation and management of such outbreaks in the future
• Measures to prevent similar outbreaks in the future
• Educational message to the public, public health professionals and policy makers.

Outbreak Report

Additional Tips

• Avoid mentioning any personal or entity identifying information
• Don’t include restaurant names, etc. in outbreak reports
• Refrain from attributing any specific info to a specific individual
• Write objectively, based on scientific data
• Cite references

Questions?

NEXT WEEK

No Class - Group Project Prep Time

• Use this time to work on your group project
• Meet to see how each of your group members are progressing
• Does anyone need extra help?
• Is anyone having difficulties?
• Great opportunity to check-in