OCT

Question 1

LIST THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD FORM THE OCT?

Answer 1

• CONSULTANT IN COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL (CCDC)
• ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
• MICROBIOLOGIST (NATIONAL REFERENCE LAB)
• ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS
• FIELD EPIDEMIOLOGIST
• FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY
• COMMUNICATIONS
• LOCAL AUTHORITY REPRESENTATIVE (DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH)

Question 2

THE ROLE OF CONSULTANT IN COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL IN AN OTC?

Answer 2

• THE CHAIR
• CO-ORDINATES VARIOUS ACTORS
• ENSURES PH INTERVENTIONS ARE IN PLACE TO PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD AND IDENTIFY THE CAUSE
• BY THE END OF THE MEETING, IDENTIFIES CLEAR ACTION POINTS WITH TIMESCALES FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND ASSIGNES RESPONSIBILITIES

Question 3

ROLE OF THE HEALTH PROTECTION TEAM IN AN OUTBREAK? (CCDC AND HEALTH PROTECTION NURSE)

Answer 3

• ENSURE CASES ARE GIVEN APPROPRIATE ADVICE TO PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD
• ARRANGE APPROPRIATE IDENTIFICATION AND FOLLOW UP OF CONTACTS
• IDENTIFY THE NEED FOR ADVICE FROM RELEVANT EXPERTS AND REQUEST ADVICE AS APPROPRIATE
• AGREE WITH OCT WHO WILL LEAD THE MEDIA RESPONSE
• ENSURE APPROPRIATE BODIES AND OFFICERS ARE KEPT INFORMED AND UPDATED

Question 4

ROLE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER (ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TEAM) IN AN OCT?

Answer 4

• INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL SOURCES AND SECURE RELEVANT IMPROVEMENTS AS APPROPRIATE
• BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ARRANGING THE COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT OF APPROPRIATE SPECIMENS AND SAMPLES TO THE LABORATORY
• UNDERTAKE APPROPRIATE FOOD, WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING
• BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE INFECTION CONTROL ADVICE IS IMPLEMENTED BY THE POTENTIAL/SUSPECTED SOURCE OF THE OUTBREAK
• MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THE INVESTIGATION AND PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE OCT

Question 5

ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM IN AN OCT?

Answer 5

• ENSURE THAT A MEETING ROOM IS AVAILABLE WITH TELECONFERENCING FACILITIES
• COMPILE THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING AND RECORD ALL KEY DECISIONS, WHICH WILL BE SENT TO ALL OCT MEMBERS IN A TIMELY FASHION

Question 6

ROLE OF THE MICROBIOLOGISTS IN OCT?

Answer 6

• PRESENT RELEVANT MICROBIOLOGICAL INFO RELATING TO THE OUTBREAK
• IDENTIFY SOURCES TO ENABLE MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTING TO BE UNDERTAKEN SPEEDILY AND EFFICIENTLY AND TO REPORT THIS TO THE OCT
• PROVIDE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE ON THE MICROBIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE INVESTIGATION AND CONTROL OF THE OUTBREAK
• ARRANGE MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTING AND FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS BY OTHER LABORATORIES IF NEEDED
• PROVIDE THE RESULTS OF ALL TESTING TO THE SOURCE OF REQUEST
• LIAISE WITH MICROBIOLOGISTS IN OTHER LABORATORIES
• ASSIST CLINICAL COLLEAGUES AND THE CCDC WITH TREATMENT AND PROPHYLAXIS PROTOCOLS
• ADVISE ON COMMUNICATIONS NEEDED WITH MICROBIOLOGY COLLEAGUES AND ASSIST IN BRIEFINGS WHERE NECESSARY

Question 7

ROLE OF THE FIELD EPIDEMIOLOGY SERVICES IN AN OCT?

Answer 7

• PROVIDE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ADVICE RELEVANT TO THE OUTBREAK
• SUPPORT ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA (E.G. RAPID PRODUCTION OF QUESTIONNAIRES, DESIGN OF AN ANALYTICAL STUDY TO IDENTIFY A SOURCE)

Question 8

ROLE OF A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER IN AN OCT?

Answer 8

• ENSURE THAT ANY MEDIA IMPLICATIONS RELATING TO THE OUTBREAK ARE CONSIDERED AND PLANNED FOR