Pertussis Resurgence: What Twenty-Seven Exposure Investigations Taught Us About Readiness

Session Description: When one pertussis exposure in fiscal year 2024 turned into twenty-seven the following fiscal year, our health system had no choice but to scale its exposure response infrastructure. This session walks participants through what happened next: the lessons, breakdowns, and system adaptations that came from investigating dozens of pertussis exposures in rapid succession.

The presentation will unpack how workflows originally designed for low-volume events were restructured mid-year to handle high-frequency investigations with consistency and speed. We’ll explore how case review, contact identification, risk assessment, and notification evolved across the year, and how those changes impacted timeliness and staff confidence.

As the number of cases grew, so did the pressure to maintain quality. What began as a reactive process became an opportunity to build sustainable tools for exposure response, including centralized logs, templated communication workflows, and a tiered follow-up system designed for scale. Each adaptation came with tradeoffs, and we’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and what we’d do differently.

Crucially, this session will also examine how rapid scale exposed equity gaps in communication and access. Staff without regular email access, night shift workers, and nonclinical roles were frequently missed in early notifications or lacked clarity on next steps. In response, we will review inclusive communication strategies and flexible documentation practices to ensure equitable follow-up across departments.

Attendees will walk away with a practical framework for adapting workflows, strengthening communication, and centering equity when systems are under stress. Though focused on pertussis, the scalable workflows and equity-centered strategies discussed are readily adaptable to other pathogens, including measles, tuberculosis, and emerging respiratory viruses.

Rachel Ronne

Employee Epidemiology Coordinator, Medical University of South Carolina

Rachel Ronne, MPH, is the employee epidemiology coordinator at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Specializing in the intersection between infection prevention and employee health, Rachel is experienced in managing and mitigating epidemiologically significant infections among over 35,000 MUSC members including world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates, residents, students and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care at over 950 care locations. With a specific passion for integrating innovative technology and process improvement, Rachel is dedicated to advancing workplace health and safety and sharing knowledge with the broader infection prevention community.

Kelcy Scott

Infection Preventionist, Medical University of South Carolina

Kelcy Scott lives in Summerville, SC with her husband and son. She started her career in the medical field at the Medical University of South Carolina as a patient care aide while going to school for respiratory therapy. Shortly after earning her credential as a registered respiratory therapist, she earned the credential of neonatal-pediatric specialist in 2016. She worked as a pediatric respiratory therapist for the next 6 years while pursuing a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration and then a master’s degree in public health. In late 2022, she shifted to infection prevention and assumed a focus on infection prevention in MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital in late 2023. She earned her certification in infection control in December 2024.

Cindy Prins

Clinical Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of Florida

Cindy Prins, PHD, MPH, CIC, CPH, is the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions’ assistant dean for educational affairs, the MPH Program Director, and a clinical associate professor of Epidemiology. Dr. Prins received her PhD in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology from Penn State University in 2000, where she studied replication of JC virus. She completed her post-doctoral training at the University of Florida, focusing on regulation of vaccinia virus transcription elongation. Concurrently, she earned her MPH in the Epidemiology concentration from the College of Public Health and Health Professions at UF in the fall of 2006. After this she worked as an Infection Control Practitioner at UF Health Shands Hospital. Dr. Prins joined the Epidemiology faculty first as an adjunct lecturer in 2009 and then full time as a clinical assistant professor in the fall of 2010. Dr. Prins’ research interests include the prevention of healthcare-associated infections, including those caused by multi-drug resistant organisms, and compliance with vaccine recommendations. Dr. Prins is Board Certified in Infection Control (CIC) and Public Health (CPH).

Amy Huff

Infection Preventionist, Hazel I. Findlay

Amy Huff, RN, CIC, LTC-CIP has worked at Hazel I. Findlay, a Skilled Nursing Facility in Michigan, for 35 years. She began as a Nurse Aide while completing her nursing education and spent 17 years as a floor nurse, Nurse Aide Training Program Instructor, Education Manager, and other managerial roles before stepping into the Infection Preventionist role in 2007. She has served on committees in Disaster Preparedness and Infection Prevention and Control realms. Amy enjoys learning, meeting new people, and mentoring others; she considers her CIC, LTC-CIP, and a-IPC certifications to be essential milestones in her career and encourages her peers to take these important steps. She is an APIC Faculty Member, instructing several courses. She has been a part of her Great Lakes APIC Chapter in the Membership Secretary role and feels honored to have served as a member of the APIC National Conference Committee.