Active laboratory-based surveillance for dengue infection in Bien Hoa city in 2002-2003

In 2 epidemics of Dengue haemorrhagic fever in Bien Hoa, the predominant serotypes of dengue virus in the year 2000 and 2003 were Dengue-4 and Dengue-1, respectively. The number of clinical cases of children under 15 years old diagnosed as viral infection and unknown fever (n=1653), were higher than those diagnosed as Dengue fever/Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF) (n=1122). The number of Dengue virus isolated from patients with viral infection and unknown fever (n=102) was higher than those isolated from DF/DHF cases (n=85). The number of Dengue positive MAC-ELISA cases in 2 years was 870 corresponding to a positive rate of 30.27%

Laboratory Based Surveillance System of Communicable Disease in Korea / 한국역학회지

Since the communicable disease trend changes rapidly, many nations have developed communicable disease surveillance system according to their system. Among the surveillance, the laboratory based surveillance system has been particulary important for epidemiological analysis of various communicable diseases. Some communicable diseases, such as salmonellosis and shigellosis can be monitored accurately only through the laboratory based surveillance system because of the nonspecificity of the clinical syndrome. And clinical surveillance data are confirmed with laboratory findings can have substantial impacts of reporting rate and can increase the reliablity of survillance data. The current communicable disease surveillance system in Korea is notitiable disease report system and has problems in representativeness of reports and reporting rate. The object of this study is to find problems of present laboratory based surveillance system in Korea and to suggest implementation strategies.

Sensitivity of Laboratory-based Surveillance for Detecting Nosocomial Infections / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: Laboratory-based surveillance is an effective method' to detect nosocomial infections with limited personnel and time, and also can be used to identify clusters of organisms by unit and site. However it will fail to detect a significant number of infections because of cultures being negative or not submitted at all. This study was performed to determine the sensitivity of laboratory-based surveillance method in detecting nosocomial infections. METHODS: Four nursing units, two each of medical and surgical units, of Asan Medical Center were chosen and surveillance for nosocomial infections was performed with the total surveillance method for the 6-month period from July to December of 1995 by an infection control nurse. Proportion of the nosocomial infections that would have been detected by culture results alone was identified to determine the sensitivity of the laboratory-based surveillance method. RESULTS: A total of 164 cases of nosocomial infections were identified by the total surveillance method. Of these, 119 (72.6%) cases would have been detected by the laboratory-based surveillance method alone. Sensitivities were 100% in urinary tract infection and bacteremia, and 44.7%, 52.6% and 54.8% in lower respiratory tract, surgical site and other site infections, respectively. The 45 cases of infections that would have been undetected by microbiology data alone included 30 cases with culture negatives and 15 cases in which cultures were not submitted. CONCLUSIONS: The laboratory-based surveillance revealed different sensitivities depending on the sites of infections and patient services. The method is efficient with an acceptable level of sensitivities, but infection control teams should be aware of its shortcoming by a periodic monitoring of its sensitivity in the detection of nosocomial infections at their own hospitals.

Sensitivity of Laboratory-based Surveillance for Detecting Nosocomial Infections / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: Laboratory-based surveillance is an effective method' to detect nosocomial infections with limited personnel and time, and also can be used to identify clusters of organisms by unit and site. However it will fail to detect a significant number of infections because of cultures being negative or not submitted at all. This study was performed to determine the sensitivity of laboratory-based surveillance method in detecting nosocomial infections. METHODS: Four nursing units, two each of medical and surgical units, of Asan Medical Center were chosen and surveillance for nosocomial infections was performed with the total surveillance method for the 6-month period from July to December of 1995 by an infection control nurse. Proportion of the nosocomial infections that would have been detected by culture results alone was identified to determine the sensitivity of the laboratory-based surveillance method. RESULTS: A total of 164 cases of nosocomial infections were identified by the total surveillance method. Of these, 119 (72.6%) cases would have been detected by the laboratory-based surveillance method alone. Sensitivities were 100% in urinary tract infection and bacteremia, and 44.7%, 52.6% and 54.8% in lower respiratory tract, surgical site and other site infections, respectively. The 45 cases of infections that would have been undetected by microbiology data alone included 30 cases with culture negatives and 15 cases in which cultures were not submitted. CONCLUSIONS: The laboratory-based surveillance revealed different sensitivities depending on the sites of infections and patient services. The method is efficient with an acceptable level of sensitivities, but infection control teams should be aware of its shortcoming by a periodic monitoring of its sensitivity in the detection of nosocomial infections at their own hospitals.