The CDC HIV Outbreak Coordination Unit: Developing a Standardized, Collaborative Approach to HIV Outbreak Assessment...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health departments have increased efforts to detect and respond to HIV clusters and outbreaks.
• In July 2017, the CDC established the HIV Outbreak Coordination Unit (OCU) to standardize the assessment of potential HIV outbreaks.
• The OCU is a multidisciplinary unit within the CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, comprising experts in various fields relevant to outbreak response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the establishment and function of the CDC's HIV Outbreak Coordination Unit (OCU).
• To outline the OCU's role in supporting health departments in assessing and responding to HIV clusters and outbreaks.
• To highlight the benefits of the OCU for both the CDC and health departments.

Main Methods:

• The HIV OCU reviewed 31 potential HIV clusters and outbreaks across 22 states between July 2017 and December 2019.
• CDC provided support to health departments through remote or on-site consultations, data management, laboratory services, and prevention initiatives.
• The OCU facilitated problem-solving, coordination, and situational awareness through regular meetings and ongoing communication with health departments.

Main Results:

• Out of 31 reviewed events, 17 involved HIV transmission linked to injection drug use; others were associated with sexual transmission or general increases in HIV diagnoses.
• CDC's support encompassed planning, data analysis, communication strategies, laboratory assistance, multistate coordination, and scaling up HIV prevention services.
• The OCU enhanced the CDC's capacity to support health departments in HIV outbreak assessment and response, yielding significant internal organizational advantages.

Conclusions:

• The HIV Outbreak Coordination Unit has effectively augmented CDC's support for health departments addressing HIV clusters and outbreaks.
• Health departments are encouraged to develop or enhance similar coordination units to improve detection and response efforts.
• Strengthening such units can advance the national Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative by fostering coordinated public health action.