Following a serious outbreak of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) at a nursing home in Lorraine in 2005, several regional partners came together to launch a study aimed at evaluating the management of such infectious outbreaks within nursing homes and raising awareness among their healthcare managers regarding the handling of cluster cases. At a time when specific national recommendations are being issued on how to respond to lower respiratory tract infections, the study sought to highlight the practical difficulties and weaknesses of facilities in managing infectious outbreaks. Four key stages of care warrant particular attention: diagnosis by general practitioners, staff responsiveness in implementing infection control measures, identification of cluster cases, and early reporting. Two levels of intervention should be prioritized: - training for nursing home staff, covering both control measures and responsiveness in implementing them, as well as the concept of reporting and relevant regulations; - the role of the coordinating physician, who should be relied upon at all stages of managing cluster cases, as well as for informing and even organizing appropriate training for staff. The survey facilitated various forms of awareness-raising on these topics and further strengthened ties with public health surveillance partners in nursing homes. Finally, these exchanges demonstrated that the concepts of public health surveillance, alerts, and reporting—which are currently undergoing significant development—still occupy an insufficient place within the training curricula of various healthcare professions. (R.A.)