The Applicability and Usefulness of Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance Using a Computed Data Source for Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis and Meningitis
Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
; : 374-381, 2010.
Article
in Korean
| WPRIM (Western Pacific)
| ID: wpr-94144
Responsible library:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
This study was designed to evaluate the applicability and usefulness of emergency department (ED) syndromic surveillance using a computerized data source for highly contagious, public health related diseases such as conjunctivitis and meningitis.METHODS:
Between Jan 1 2007 and Dec 31 2008 we conducted a retrospective, observational study through consecutive enrollment of individuals at a university hospital with an ED census of about 156,000. ED patient data were obtained from a computerized data system, the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS). Predefined symptoms including red eye, eye injection / discharge / itching, headache, nausea, vomiting and predefined signs such as fever comparable with conjunctivitis and meningitis and ED discharge diagnosis were used as data for syndromic surveillance. Data about spinal tapping were used for agreement analysis.RESULTS:
We enrolled 714 patients for ED syndromic conjunctivitis and 1,889 for ED syndromic meningitis during the study period. A positive correlation was demonstrated between ED syndromic conjunctivitis data and national ophthalmologic sentinel survey data (Pearson correlation = 0.696; p<0.001). The agreement (kapha value) between ED syndromic meningitis using chief complaints and ED discharge diagnosis and ED syndromic meningitis using chief complaints and spinal tapping order was 0.665 (p<0.001). Real outbreaks were recognized 2 to 4 weeks early by both ED syndromic surveillance of conjunctivitis and meningitis.CONCLUSION:
ED syndromic surveillance methods are applicable and useful for surveillance of conjunctivitis and meningitis. Further study is needed to clarify the effectiveness of ED syndromic surveillance and the likelihood of early recognition in highly contagious public health related diseases.
Full text:
Available
Health context:
Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas
/
SDG3 - Health and Well-Being
/
Neglected Diseases
/
SDG3 - Target 3.3 End transmission of communicable diseases
Health problem:
Goal 6: Information systems for health
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Goal 8: Outbreaks, emergencies and disasters
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Target 3.3: End transmission of communicable diseases
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Neglected Diseases
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Zoonoses
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Meningitis
Database:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Pruritus
/
Pyrethrins
/
Spinal Puncture
/
Vomiting
/
Information Systems
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Public Health
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Disease Outbreaks
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Retrospective Studies
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Information Storage and Retrieval
/
Conjunctivitis
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Screening study
Aspects:
Social determinants of health
Limits:
Humans
Language:
Korean
Journal:
Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
Year:
2010
Document type:
Article