Authors: Ines Corcuera Hotz, Grace George / Editor: Tadgh Moriarty / Codes: / Published: 13/10/2022
This module is a summary on notifiable diseases aiming to put the notification process in context of the wider public health implications. It aims to improve awareness and reporting practices among emergency clinicians.
Infectious disease notification is important to enable prompt investigation, risk assessment and response to cases of disease and contamination that present, or could present, a significant risk to human health. This module covers the chain of infection, illustrating how infectious diseases are commonly transmitted, followed by possible modes of transmission. The implications for public health, legalities and speed of notification are then discussed.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Describe steps that can be taken to break the chain of infection
- Explain reasons for the notification of communicable diseases
- Describe the surveillance process and its benefits
- List some of the diseases that are notifiable in the UK
References
- Department of Health. Health protection legislation guidance 2010: Department of Health – Publications [Internet]. [cited 2021 Nov 29].
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Principles of Epidemiology | Lesson 1 – Section 10 [Internet]. Third Edition. 2011 [cited 2021 Nov 29].
- Chain of Infection Overview [Internet]. [cited 2021 Nov 29].
- Ellis J, Hearn P, Johnston V. Assessment of returning travellers with fever. Medicine (Abingdon). 2018 Jan;46(1):2-9.
- Thwaites GE, Day NP. Approach to Fever in the Returning Traveler. N Engl J Med. 2017 Feb 9;376(6):548-560.
- Landing page image by CDC on Unsplash.
Additional resources
- British Infection Association (BIA), for UK recommendations and guidelines.
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)
- ProMED-mail (electronic reporting system for infectious diseases outbreaks).
- Public Health England (PHE, previously HPA)
- WHO outbreak data
Telephone advice
- Imported Fever Service, HPE, UK: +44 (0) 844 778 8990 Contact after discussion with local microbiology, virology or infectious diseases consultant.
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, UCLH, London, UK Tel: +44 (0) 203 456 7890 and ask for the Tropical/ID physician on-call
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK. Tel.: (09001700 h) +44 (0) 151 705 3100 Tel.: (24 h) +44 (0) 151 706 2000 and ask for the Tropical/ID physician on-call. Liverpool University Hospitals
