Campsfield House I.R.C. Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
Campsfield House I.R.C.
Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR AN
OUTBREAK OF FOOD POISONING
OR OTHER COMMUNICABLE
DISEASE
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Campsfield House I.R.C. Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
CONTENTS
PAGE
Objectives
3
Relevant definitions
3
Recognition of outbreak
4
Phase One: Reporting cases of suspected food
poisoning or other reportable disease.
4
Phase Two: Institution of Formal Outbreak Control Team.
5
Functions of the Outbreak Control Team
6
Phase Three: At the end of the outbreak
6
Appendices
1b. Universal Infection Control Procedures
7
2. List of Notifiable diseases
9
3. Outbreak Diary of Events
10
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Campsfield House I.R.C. Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
Many infectious diseases have the capacity to spread within residential establishments
where large numbers of people, some of whom may be more susceptible to infection,
share eating and living accommodation. The use of Universal Infection Control
Procedures can minimise the spread of infection and protect the health of both detainees
and staff within the Centre. Guidelines relating to general infection control procedures are
included as Appendix 1. More detailed information and guidance are available from on
site healthcare staff.
During establishment of the healthcare service at the Campsfield House IRC will have
established clear and effective communication channels with the local Public Health
Department. As part of this communication the Health Centre will have been provided
with a reference document relating to infectious diseases which outlines general practical
management measures for specific conditions. More specific information will be provided
by Public Health at the time they are notified of an incident. This ensures that the
management of the situation is based on the most up to date guidelines
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this plan are to:
1. Establish procedures to permit the prompt recognition, investigation and control of
outbreaks of communicable disease.
2. Reduce the chance of person to person spread.
3. Notify the relevant authorities and prevent a contaminated food source gaining a
wider distribution.
4. Comply with the relevant legislation.
5. Formulate action to reduce the risk of similar outbreaks.
RELEVANT DEFINITIONS
Infectious disease:
Any disease caused by growth of pathogenic organisms. It may or may not be
communicable.
Food borne illness (food poisoning):
Any disease of infectious or toxic nature caused by, or thought to be caused, by the
consumption of food or water. Water borne illness is defined in similar terms
An outbreak:
when the observed number of cases exceeds the expected numbers (Generally TWO or
more cases.)
If any of the above baselines are met there is a need to investigate the incident to
establish whether there is an outbreak of food poisoning, communicable or reportable
disease in the Centre population.
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Campsfield House I.R.C. Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
RECOGNITION OF AN OUTBREAK
1. Laboratory surveillance of microbiology reports may indicate an increase in the
number of isolates of a single species.
2. Healthcare staff may notice an increased incidence of a specific infection.
3. Residential staff may report an increased incidence of a specific infection to
Healthcare.
PHASE ONE
REPORTING CASE(S) OF SUSPECTED FOOD POISONING OR
REPORTABLE DISEASE
1. If any detainee reports sick with symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting or
reportable disease (see Appendix 2-List of Notifiable Diseases) this should be
reported promptly to the Healthcare Manager and the doctor.
2. Any incidences of staff reporting sick with complaints of diarrhoea and/or vomiting
or other reportable disease (see Appendix 2) should be promptly reported to the
Centre Manager who will inform the Healthcare Manager/doctor.
3. The Healthcare Manager and the doctor will investigate promptly the reports
received by him/her and will:
 Inform the Centre Director (or Designated Deputy) of the potential problem
and the action being taken.

Consider the need for isolation of detainees either in the main living
accommodation or Healthcare Centre as appropriate.

Inform and seek advice from the Environmental Health Officers and
Consultant in Communicable Disease Control.

Liaise with the microbiology Laboratory Dept re: Arrangements for
collection and transport of specimens to the Laboratory for examination.

Liaise with the Microbiologist/Public Health Laboratory for receiving urgent
reports by telephone or fax.

Decide from information available, after due consultations with Consultant
in Communicable Disease Control and Environmental Health Officer,
whether there is an outbreak of food poisoning or reportable disease in the
Centre and advise the Centre Director accordingly.

Complete the Certificate of Notification of Infectious Disease or Food
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Campsfield House I.R.C. Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
Poisoning and forward to the appropriate authorities.

Liaise with local hospitals regarding admission of detainees requiring
clinical interventions/isolation.
PHASE TWO
INSTITUTION OF A
FORMAL OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION TEAM
If there is the potential for a minor and or major outbreak of food poisoning or any other
reportable disease the Centre Director will convene an Outbreak Control Team Meeting
(OCT) in consultation with The Healthcare Manager, the Consultant in Communicable
Disease Control and the Environmental Health Office Representative. In the event of an
either a minor or major incident/outbreak it is urgent to convene the first meeting of the
Outbreak Control Team as soon as possible after the incident is reported.
OUTBREAK CONTROL TEAM (OCT)
The core membership of the Outbreak Control Team will be as follows:
The Team Chairman will be the Consultant in Communicable Diseases Control, having
the power to co-opt other members as required depending on the nature of the outbreak.

Centre Manager

Consultant in Communicable. Disease Control

Public Health Nurse

Health Care Manager

Centre doctor

Immigration Service representative

Principal Environmental Health Officer

Catering Manager
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Campsfield House I.R.C. Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
FUNCTIONS OF THE OUTBREAK CONTROL TEAM

To define cases of infection, identify and record number of cases, develop a
hypothesis concerning mode of spread and causative organism. Suggested
documentation included as Appendices 3, 4 and 5.

To take the necessary steps for the continuing clinical care of detainees during the
outbreak.

To identify the resource implications of the outbreak and its management and
ensure that these are available.

To agree and co-ordinate policy decisions on the investigation and control of the
outbreak and ensure that they are implemented.

To implement control measures.

To monitor the effectiveness of the control measures.

To consider the need for outside assistance.

To provide clear instructions and / or information to GEO and Drummonds staff.

To ensure communication with relevant outside agencies, relatives and media.

To review the progress of the outbreak.

To define the end of the outbreak.

To prepare written reports as necessary.

To lead a 'Critical Incident Debrief at the conclusion of the outbreak identifying and
communicating lessons learnt.
PHASE THREE
AT THE END OF THE OUTBREAK
The Outbreak Control Team should Review the experience of the participants involved in
the management of the incident.

To identify shortfalls and particular difficulties.

To revise the plan in light of the above.

To make recommendations which may reduce the chance of recurrence of the
outbreak.
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Campsfield House I.R.C. Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
Reference should also be made to other policies in this section and also The
Practice infection control policies. GEO also have a contingency which dovetails
with this one, this may be found on the common drive in the staff information
sheet and a hard copy is also attached to this policy for reference.
This policy is also written in conjunction with Health Protection Legislation
(England) Guidance 2010, a copy of which follows this policy.
APPENDIX 1
UNIVERSAL INFECTION CONTROL PROCEDURES
Gloves and Aprons
Disposable powder free latex or vinyl gloves should be worn for direct contact
with blood or body fluid and for direct contact with non intact skin or mucous
membranes. Gloves should be discarded after each procedure into yellow
bags for incineration.
The use of gloves does not preclude the need for thorough hand washing
between procedures.
Disposable plastic aprons should be worn whenever contamination of clothing
with blood or body fluids is anticipated.
Hand washing
Hands should be washed before all procedures. If the skin is contaminated
with blood or body fluid, this should be washed off immediately with soap and
water ensuring hands are dried sufficiently with paper towels.
Broken Skin
Cuts and abrasions in any area of exposed skin, particularly the hands and
forearms should be covered with a waterproof dressing.
Sharps
Extreme care must be exercised during the use and disposal of sharps.
Needles, syringes, blades and other sharp instruments should be placed into a
rigid sharps container (British Standard). Never resheath, bend or break
needles. Discard needle and syringe as one unit. Never overfill the bin and
ensure that it is securely closed before disposal.
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Campsfield House I.R.C. Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
Excreta and Waste
Excreta should be disposed of directly into the toilet or sluice.
All waste contaminated with blood or body fluid should be discarded into
yellow bags for incineration, ensuring no fluid leaks from the bag.
Spillages
Spills of blood or body fluid should be treated with chlorine granules and left for
two minutes, then wearing gloves and aprons, the granules should be removed
using paper towels and discarded as clinical waste, the area being washed
over with detergent and water.
All equipment necessary for the removal of body fluid incidents is contained in
the yellow spill packs available throughout the centre.
Urine spillages need only be cleaned with soap and water.
Every detainee and member of staff should be regarded as a potential risk,
therefore, it is essential that good, safe practice is routine. Failure to comply
with infection control practices can have severe consequences.
It will be the responsibility of the manager to provide the right equipment to
maintain good infection control practices.
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Campsfield House I.R.C. Healthcare Policy No. 7.2
Appendix 2.
Diseases notifiable (to Local Authority Proper Officers) under the Health
Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010:

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

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






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

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



Acute encephalitis
Acute meningitis
Acute poliomyelitis
Acute infectious hepatitis
Anthrax
Botulism
Brucellosis
Cholera
Diphtheria
Enteric fever (typhoid or paratyphoid fever)
Food poisoning
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)
Infectious bloody diarrhoea
Invasive group A streptococcal disease and scarlet fever
Legionnaires’ Disease
Leprosy
Malaria
Measles
Meningococcal septicaemia
Mumps
Plague
Rabies
Rubella
SARS
Smallpox
Tetanus
Tuberculosis
Typhus
Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF)
Whooping cough
Yellow fever
As of April 2010, it is no longer a requirement to notify the following diseases: dysentery,
ophthalmia neonatorum, leptospirosis, and relapsing fever.
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Appendix 3
OUTBREAK DIARY OF EVENTS
OUTBREAK CONFIRMED AS…………………………………………….
Signature of Centre Doctor………………………………………………….
Action
Date
Time
Healthcare Manager Informed
Doctor Informed
Centre Manager Informed
Consultant in Communicable Disease
Informed
Environmental Health Officer Informed
Outbreak Control Team Convened
Interim Report Completed
Outbreak confirmed as over
Debrief Meeting
Final Report Completed
10
Date / Time
Action Log of Outbreak
Signature
-
11
OUTBREAK LOG OF STAFF
POSITION
NAME
STAFF
GROUP
REPORTED
SICK
DATE
RETURNED
COMMENTS
12
OUTBREAK LOG OF DETAINEES
NAME
ROOM NO.
REPORTED
SICK
H/C OR
HOSPITAL
ADMISSION
DATE
CONFIRMED
FIT
COMMENTS
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Appendix 4.
Public Health Pathways and Contacts
Outbreak of Infectious or notifiable Disease; Phone Thames Valley
Health Protection Unit
Thames Valley Health Protection Unit
John Eccles house
Robert Robinson Avenue
Oxford Science Park
OX4 4GP
Tel: 0845 2799879 Fax: 0845 2799881
Health Protection Practitioner: Vanessa Baugh
Public Health Consultant: Dr Noel McCarthy
Author:
Date Policy Reviewed:
Person Reviewing:
Job title:
Next Review Date:
Drummonds Medical Limited
September 2010
Lisa Duff
Healthcare Manager
April 2013
.
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