Reportable diseases

[ihearttimgunn]

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So back when I was a second year in microbiology they were always going on about which diseases are reportable and which ones aren't and how failing to report them is a class whatever misdemeanor. I thought this was good because, let's face it, we need the CDC to do our jobs right by using their data and to not die of some hideous epidemic and the CDC needs accurate information about disease incidence. Fast-forward to now, most of the way through 3rd year, and I have never seen or heard of any attending, resident, or intern reporting, thinking about reporting, or talking about reporting or having reported any disease, ever, despite the fact that I see at least one patient with a reportable disease of some kind (either state or CDC requirements) nearly every day of my life. So what's going on? I can hardly imagine that this is only my institution... are they off the hook because hospital labs are required to report diseases too, and the doctor reporting a disease would only cause a duplicate report? If so, why all the posters everywhere with the list of reportables? How does the CDC get any of its data and how can any of it be reliable? Do they just hang out in Atlanta congratulating themselves for their awesome disease controlling and preventing? "Great job guys! This is the 15th year in a row where we've had fewer than 3 cases of syphilis in the entire United States! We rock! Root beer float party tomorrow! Again!"
Does anyone know?

 

[Law2Doc]

So back when I was a second year in microbiology they were always going on about which diseases are reportable and which ones aren't and how failing to report them is a class whatever misdemeanor. I thought this was good because, let's face it, we need the CDC to do our jobs right by using their data and to not die of some hideous epidemic and the CDC needs accurate information about disease incidence. Fast-forward to now, most of the way through 3rd year, and I have never seen or heard of any attending, resident, or intern reporting, thinking about reporting, or talking about reporting or having reported any disease, ever, despite the fact that I see at least one patient with a reportable disease of some kind (either state or CDC requirements) nearly every day of my life. So what's going on? I can hardly imagine that this is only my institution... are they off the hook because hospital labs are required to report diseases too, and the doctor reporting a disease would only cause a duplicate report? If so, why all the posters everywhere with the list of reportables? How does the CDC get any of its data and how can any of it be reliable? Do they just hang out in Atlanta congratulating themselves for their awesome disease controlling and preventing? "Great job guys! This is the 15th year in a row where we've had fewer than 3 cases of syphilis in the entire United States! We rock! Root beer float party tomorrow! Again!"
Does anyone know?

I've actually seen many STD reportings and one homeless patient who was committed (against his will) for TB. If your institution isn't following protocol I'd be surprised; it's possible that you don't see the "behind the scenes" paperwork.

 

[smq123]

I can hardly imagine that this is only my institution... are they off the hook because hospital labs are required to report diseases too, and the doctor reporting a disease would only cause a duplicate report? If so, why all the posters everywhere with the list of reportables?

Usually the lab automatically reports it to the local health departments whenever they get a positive result.

 

[DrMom]

Usually the lab automatically reports it to the local health departments whenever they get a positive result.

yup. that's how it works here.

 

[ihearttimgunn]

Yeah, I figured the labs must do it... but then why bother pounding the list of reportables into our heads in med school if it's done automatically?

 

[smq123]

Yeah, I figured the labs must do it... but then why bother pounding the list of reportables into our heads in med school if it's done automatically?

The same reason that they pound the TCA cycle intermediates into our heads, I suppose. 😕