Public health rapid response in managing COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care facilities: a regional public health unit perspective

Authors

  • Mohammad Rashidul Hashan School of Medicine and Health Science, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton North, Australia; Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Australia
  • Jacina Walker Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Australia
  • Margaret Charles Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Australia
  • Susie Le Brasse Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Australia
  • Danielle Odorico Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Australia
  • Nicolas Smoll Sunshine Coast Public Health Unit, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Sunshine Coast, Australia
  • Michael Kirk Rockhampton Business Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
  • Robert Booy Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Gulam Khandaker Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Australia; Research Division, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton North, Queensland, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2024.48.36

Keywords:

COVID-19, outbreak, vaccine, aged care, public health

Abstract

We describe here the impact of managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks, during January–August 2022, in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Central Queensland, Australia, following the deployment of a public health rapid response team (PHRRT, comprising a medical officer, a communicable disease nurse, and an epidemiologist) from a regional public health unit (PHU). Our existing vaccine preventable diseases surveillance framework was used in identifying any symptomatic resident, triggering a PHRRT response. We found that the Hospital in the Home (HiTH) admission and death events were significantly lower after the introduction of the PHRRT than in the outbreaks that occurred before. Based on our experience with a PHRRT-led approach in mitigating the burden of outbreaks, we recommend regular reflection on optimising resources and practices in RACFs. Effective communication from PHUs can improve the RACFs’ preparedness and capacity to respond, and can inform the best practice model to protect the highly susceptible elderly residents and their staff.

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References

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Published

23/10/24

How to Cite

Hashan, Mohammad Rashidul, Jacina Walker, Margaret Charles, Susie Le Brasse, Danielle Odorico, Nicolas Smoll, Michael Kirk, Robert Booy, and Gulam Khandaker. 2024. “Public Health Rapid Response in Managing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Residential Aged Care Facilities: A Regional Public Health Unit Perspective”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 48 (October). https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2024.48.36.

Issue

Vol. 48 (2024)

Section

Surveillance summary

Categories

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