East Region Health Protection Service – Formerly Health Protection Team (HPT)

Outbreak period definitions and PCR agreed testing

16/02/2023 – We identified a difference in guidance between Covid19 and other respiratory pathogens which could sometimes be disproportionate, for example, a Covid 19 outbreak in a Care Home previously could not be declared over until there were no further linked cases within a 14 day period whereas an outbreak of Influenza could be declared over when all residents had completed self isolation and there has been no further linked cases within a 48 hour period.

We felt that this difference in guidance could cause confusion and was also causing care homes to remain in outbreak status with outbreak control measures in place for a longer period of time than may be necessary.

As a result we have agreed local policy to align all respiratory illness under the same guidance. Going forward all outbreaks of respiratory illness will be able to be declared over through a risk assessment approach by Health Protection Team. This will be when:

• All residents have completed a minimum of 5 days isolation
• All positive and symptomatic residents are at least 48 hours apyrexial and asymptomatic
• There has been no further linked cases within the last 48 hours

HPT will ask for the end of outbreak risk assessment to be completed and returned. HPT will then use this information to undertake a risk assessment and advise if the outbreak can be deemed over. Please see the table of documents below.

Furthermore, due to changes in testing there is a new agreed PCR testing pathway in place in relation to PCR testing of residents. The Health Protection Team have recently delivered a presentation on this, please see the table of documents below for more information.

Please note, if you need more stock of PCR kits email HPT and we will arrange a pack of 5 to be sent out.

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