Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2011 Feb;39(1):29-34.
doi: 10.1007/s15010-010-0064-6. Epub 2010 Dec 3.

Worldwide Outbreak Database: the largest collection of nosocomial outbreaks

R-P Vonberg  1 , D Weitzel-Kage, M Behnke, P Gastmeier
Affiliations
Review

Worldwide Outbreak Database: the largest collection of nosocomial outbreaks

R-P Vonberg et al. Infection. 2011 Feb.

Abstract

Epidemiological findings of a single outbreak event may not be generalized; however, the characteristics of a typical outbreak can be determined on the basis of a large number of similar events. The Outbreak Database ( http://www.outbreak-database.com ) is the largest collection of nosocomial outbreaks currently available-and is still expanding. Articles are filed systematically, enabling those on a specific parameter of interest to be retrieved quickly. As such, this database is an extremely valuable tool on many medically related fronts, such as for educating other medical personnel, providing relevant information during the investigation of an acute outbreak, or addressing scientific-oriented questions. Several systematic reviews on a wide range of subjects, including sources of infections, types of pathogens, routes of transmission, appropriate infection control measures, and patients at risk of infection, have already been published based on information contained in this database. As this database may be used free of charge, all medical staff in the field of infection control, hygiene, and hospital epidemiology should be aware of its existence.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Date of publication of articles as filed in the outbreak database
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of infections in nosocomial outbreaks
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Infection control measures applied in nosocomial outbreaks
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Fretz R, Schmid D, Jelovcan S, Tschertou R, Krassnitzer E, Schirmer M, et al. An outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis in an Austrian hospital, winter 2006–2007. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2009;121(3–4):137–143. doi: 10.1007/s00508-008-1135-x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Gortner L, Borkhardt A, Reiss I. Consequences of scientific reports of complications. Lancet. 2000;356(9246):2015. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)72992-5. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Haley RW, Tenney JH, Lindsey JO, Garner JS, Bennett JV. How frequent are outbreaks of nosocomial infection in community hospitals? Infect Control. 1985;6(6):233–236. - PubMed
    1. Wenzel RP, Thompson RL, Landry SM, Russell BS, Miller PJ, Ponce dL, et al. Hospital-acquired infections in intensive care unit patients: an overview with emphasis on epidemics. Infect Control. 1983;4(5):371–375. - PubMed
    1. Reingold AL. Outbreak investigations—a perspective. Emerg Infect Dis. 1998;4(1):21–27. doi: 10.3201/eid0401.980104. - DOI - PMC - PubMed