For many of us Canadians, this past week has been all
about running around and trying to get organized for our Thanksgiving
Weekend. If you’re lucky, you’re not
hosting the big family event and just need to show up to eat the fabulous meal
that some loving relation has slaved over.
In my family, we potluck – whoever is hosting does the turkey, stuffing,
potatoes and gravy and the rest of us bring the other fixings. I’m on dessert duty – a dairy free, gluten
free cheesecake. Trust me it will be
delicious!
For anyone in the infection prevention world it has long
been known (or believed to be true) that outbreaks ALWAYS occur on Fridays at
4:30pm. Our anecdotal notion that
outbreaks are more likely to be reported on Fridays is so strong that a group
of researchers undertook a study to determine if there really is such a
relationship. Although various
associations between days of the week and different healthcare outcomes have
been described in literature, the data that supports the Friday Outbreak theory
was sparse. The study analyzed data for
over 900 institutional outbreaks over a 4 year period. The analysis did in fact uncover a clear
pattern. Reporting of outbreaks on
weekends (Saturday and Sunday) was below the average and Monday was the most
likely day of the week for an outbreak to be reported with Friday also showing
another high peak in reporting.
Logically thinking, this makes sense. On weekends we generally only have infection
preventionists on call and people may be loath to call them. Peak reporting on Monday then becomes the
“catch up” time of dealing with whatever happened over the weekend; and Friday
– well that’s “deadline time” of trying to get everything off your plate to
enjoy the weekend!
Regardless of the day of week the outbreak is declared,
rapid detection of outbreaks without a doubt helps ensure that the outbreak can
get contained in a shorter period of time which is obviously important for the
safety of our patients and staff!
Weekend outbreaks that go uncontained without a doubt will lead to a
higher attack rate and increases the risk of higher mortality rates.
Fingers crossed that my fellow Canadian’s have a no
outbreaks to declare today, and that no outbreaks occur over the weekend so you
all can enjoy a relaxing weekend of reconnecting and celebrating with family
and friends!
Bugging off – I have a dessert to make!
Nicole
