In short
Sick or weakened people are more susceptible to infections. In places where these people temporarily stay together, such as in hospitals and residential care institutions, outbreaks can occur where several people become infected with the same pathogen. Outbreaks with bacteria that are highly resistant to antibiotics present a particular challenge to the healthcare staff. If needed, the regional health authorities, Sciensano and other external experts work together as Outbreak Support Team (OST) to advise care facilities struggling with difficult-to-control MDRO* outbreaks.
(*MDRO: Multi-Drug Resistant Organism)
Tools for outbreak investigation & management: scroll down
Project description
Legal background
On 21 November 2013, the protocol agreement (link is external) regarding the national strategic plan to combat MDRO was published in the Official Gazette. The ‘OST’ concept was created in this context: a team of experts that can support care facilities with challenging outbreaks. The OST is led by experts from the regional health authorities. As soon as an outbreak with MDRO is notified to the concerned regional health authority, they can offer their support. Other experts e.g. from Sciensano or the relevant National Reference Center (NRC) can be called upon if needed.
The OST operates on the basis of available recommendations and scientific recommendations and evidence, supplemented by experiences from the past. It puts its specific expertise at the service of the hospital Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) team or the responsible physician of the residential care facility. Tools for outbreak investigation and management are provided. The primary and final responsibility for the outbreak rests with the hospital or care facility.
Important reminder for healthcare professionals: Outbreaks with MDRO are on the list of notifiable diseases. For notifying your regional health authority, please find information at the bottom of this page. Notification does not imply a request for support by OST. You can request support pro-actively or it may be offered to you upon notification.
Tools for outbreak investigation and management in healthcare facilities
Note: The tools are developed specifically for MDRO outbreaks but can be used for other outbreaks as well.
Contact details of the regional health authorities
Flanders - Departement Zorg (link is external)
- E-mail: infectieziektebestrijding@vlaanderen.be
- List of notifiable diseases: Overzicht infectieziekten en bijhorende richtlijnen | Zorg (zorg-en-gezondheid.be) (link is external)
- How to notify? Een meldingsplichtige infectieziekte aangeven | Zorg en (zorg-en-gezondheid.be) (link is external)
Wallonia and the German-speaking Community - Agence pour une Vie de Qualité — AVIQ (link is external)
- E-mail Wallonia: surveillance.sante@aviq.be
- Telephone Wallonia: 071 33 77 77
- E-mail German-speaking Community: infektionen@dgov.be
- Telephone German-speaking Community: 0492 14 05 57
- List of notifiable diseases: Liste des maladies à déclaration obligatoire en Wallonie | AVIQ (link is external)
- How to notify? AViQ | Déclaration (link is external)
Brussels-Capital Region – Vivalis (link is external)
- E-mail: notif-hyg@vivalis.brussels
- Telephone: 02 552 01 91
- List of notifiable diseases: Vivalis (link is external)
- How to notify? Nous alerter | Vivalis (link is external)
Results
Consult the 
overview of outbreaks with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) where epidemic support has been provided in Belgium between December 2014 — December 2020.
Sciensano's project investigator(s):
Service(s) working on this project
Partners
