Pandemic preparedness - Risk management and infection control for all respiratory infection outbreaks.

BACKGROUND: There has been substantial effort and activity in regards to pandemic planning, preparedness and response, mainly in the realm of public health. However, general practitioners and other primary care providers are important players in the health response to a pandemic.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss the importance of general practice preparedness for managing respiratory infection outbreaks and to provide a model for the general practice response. DISCUSSION: Pandemic planning and preparedness in general practice is ultimately a crucial risk management exercise, the cornerstone of which is sound infection control. As planning will be significantly aided by, and should extend to, other respiratory outbreaks, we propose a framework for managing outbreaks of respiratory infections with a focus on planned, practised and habitual infection control measures, and a stepwise response according to the extent and severity of the outbreak.