Q Fever: Surveillance & Reporting Overview for Clinicians

Case Definition

• Q Fever Case Definition
  NOTE: This definition is for public health surveillance purposes only. It is not intended for use in clinical diagnosis.

Surveillance

• In collaboration with state health departments, CDC maintains surveillance for human Q fever cases in the United States.
• All cases of Q fever in humans are nationally reportable. Physicians should report cases meeting a confirmed or probable case definition (see case definition above) to their state health department.
• Clinicians, infection control professionals (ICPs), and hospital epidemiologists should maintain heightened awareness to facilitate recognition of
  • an individual case or changing patterns or clusters of illness that would indicate possible C. burnetii (Q fever) infection and
  • changing patterns or clusters of illness that would indicate a release of a biologic agent, such as C. burnetii.

Reporting

• Q Fever Case Report(1,040 kb/3 pages)
• When C. burnetii is suspected, cannot be ruled out, and/or when a bioterrorism incident is suspected the following steps should be taken:
  • Immediately contact the local infection control professional (ICP) and/or hospital epidemiologist.
  • Follow the facility protocol for prompt notification of local and state health department epidemiologists or health officers.
• To reach a public health department consult one of the following:
  • The healthcare facility list for local and state health department phone numbers
  • The local telephone operator
  • The telephone directory under “government listings”
  • The Internet at
    • http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec80226c7a#states
    • http://www.astho.org/index.php?template=regional_links.php.
• If the local and/or state health departments cannot be reached, contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100.