Why is it important for infection preventionists to share reports on notifiable diseases with the local department of health?

• A. Reports are created and shared with the public.
• B. Reports are used only for internal audits.
• C. Notifiable disease data should be kept private by hospitals.
• D. Sharing is discouraged to protect patient privacy.

Answer: (A)

Notifiable disease reporting to public health enables surveillance and a timely public health response. When infection preventionists share these reports with the local department of health, it creates a picture of disease activity in the community. That information lets health authorities detect unusual increases, identify clusters or outbreaks, monitor trends over time, and issue alerts, guidance, or targeted interventions to clinicians and facilities. This coordinated action helps protect the community, allocate resources where needed, and inform public messaging. Patient privacy is protected by sharing data in de-identified or aggregated form when released publicly, and the primary purpose is to support public health action, not to withhold information.