Chinese Consensus Report on Family-Based Infection Control and Management (2021 Edition)

Objective: infection is mostly a family-based infectious disease. To facilitate its prevention and management, a national consensus meeting was held to review current evidence and propose strategies for population-wide and family-based infection control and management to reduce the related disease burden.

Methods: Fifty-seven experts from 41 major universities and institutions in 20 provinces/regions of mainland China were invited to review evidence and modify statements using Delphi process and grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation system. The consensus level was defined as ≥80% for agreement on the proposed statements.

Results: Experts discussed and modified the original 23 statements on family-based infection transmission, control and management, and reached consensus on 16 statements. The final report consists of three parts: (1) infection and transmission among family members, (2) prevention and management of infection in children and elderly people within households, and (3) strategies for prevention and management of infection for family members. In addition to the 'test-and-treat' and 'screen-and-treat' strategies, this consensus also introduced a novel third 'family-based infection control and management' strategy to prevent its intrafamilial transmission and development of related diseases.

Conclusion: is transmissible from person to person, and among family members. A family-based prevention and eradication strategy would be a suitable approach to prevent its intra-familial transmission and related diseases. The notion and practice would be beneficial not only for Chinese residents but also valuable as a reference for other highly infected areas.