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Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on October 25, 2006
Journal of Public Health 2006 28(4):347-350; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdl065
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© The Author 2006, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved.

Developing audit standards required for outbreaks of communicable diseases—lessons from a mumps outbreak



R. R. Kipping, Public Health Specialist Trainee1

S. Hamilton, Public Health Specialist Trainee1

M. Roderick, Specialist Registrar, Public Health2

K. Alexander, Specialist Registrar, Public Health3
1 South Gloucestershire PCT, No. 1 Monarch Court, Emerald Park, Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire BS16 7FH, UK
2 Avon Health Protection Team, King Square House, King Square, Bristol BS2 8EE, UK
3 North Somerset PCT, Waverly House, Old Church Street, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 6NN, UK

Address correspondence to R. R. Kipping, E-mail: rrkipping{at}yahoo.co.uk

Background A mumps outbreak occurred in 2004–05 in England and Wales. The outbreak in the Avon area of England led to mass vaccination of 16- to 24-year-olds with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR). The response to the outbreak was audited. Literature and web searches for audit standards were undertaken, and experts in the field were contacted. No comprehensive audit standards for outbreaks of communicable diseases were found. This article describes an approach to developing audit standards for outbreaks of communicable diseases.

Methods Audit standards were developed based on the memorandum of understanding between the National Health Service (NHS) and Health Protection Agency.The audit was undertaken involving 25 staff.

Results The audit standards developed identified many areas for improvement including training, strategic co-ordination, inter-organizational communication, consistency and timeliness of communication. Conducting the audit was problematic because there were not pre-defined audit standards.

Conclusions Audit standards should be developed, which include issues relating to the structure, process and outcome of responses to outbreaks. The development of audit standards for the management of outbreaks is crucial to evaluate outbreak control and make necessary improvements.

Keywords: audit, MMR, mumps, outbreak


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