Feasibility study for the use of self-collected nasal swabs to identify pathogens among participants of a population-based surveillance system for acute respiratory infections (GrippeWeb-Plus)-Germany, 2016.
epidemiological monitoring
human
influenza
patient generated health data
public health surveillance
respiratory tract infections
self-swabbing
Journal
Influenza and other respiratory viruses
ISSN: 1750-2659
Titre abrégé: Influenza Other Respir Viruses
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101304007
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 2019
07 2019
Historique:
received:
06
12
2018
revised:
20
02
2019
accepted:
21
02
2019
pubmed:
30
3
2019
medline:
28
1
2020
entrez:
30
3
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Internet-based participatory surveillance systems, such as the German GrippeWeb, monitor the frequency of acute respiratory illnesses on population level. In order to interpret syndromic information better, we devised a microbiological feasibility study (GrippeWeb-Plus) to test whether self-collection of anterior nasal swabs is operationally possible, acceptable for participants and can yield valid data. We recruited 103 GrippeWeb participants (73 adults and 30 children) and provided them with a kit, instructions and a questionnaire for each sample. In the first half of 2016, participants took an anterior nasal swab and sent it to the Robert Koch Institute whenever an acute respiratory illness occurred. Reporting of illnesses through the GrippeWeb platform continued as usual. We analysed swabs for the presence of human c-myc-DNA and 22 viral and bacterial pathogens. After the study, we sent participants an evaluation questionnaire. We analysed timeliness, completeness, acceptability and validity. One hundred and two participants submitted 225 analysable swabs. Ninety per cent of swabs were taken within 3 days of symptom onset. Eighty-nine per cent of swabs had a corresponding reported illness in the GrippeWeb system. Ninety-nine per cent of adults and 96% of children would be willing to participate in a self-swabbing scheme for a longer period. All swabs contained c-myc-DNA. In 119 swabs, we identified any of 14 viruses but no bacteria. The positivity rate of influenza was similar to that in the German physician sentinel. Self-collection of anterior nasal swabs proofed to be feasible, was well accepted by participants, gave valid results and was an informative adjunct to syndromic data.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Internet-based participatory surveillance systems, such as the German GrippeWeb, monitor the frequency of acute respiratory illnesses on population level. In order to interpret syndromic information better, we devised a microbiological feasibility study (GrippeWeb-Plus) to test whether self-collection of anterior nasal swabs is operationally possible, acceptable for participants and can yield valid data.
METHODS
We recruited 103 GrippeWeb participants (73 adults and 30 children) and provided them with a kit, instructions and a questionnaire for each sample. In the first half of 2016, participants took an anterior nasal swab and sent it to the Robert Koch Institute whenever an acute respiratory illness occurred. Reporting of illnesses through the GrippeWeb platform continued as usual. We analysed swabs for the presence of human c-myc-DNA and 22 viral and bacterial pathogens. After the study, we sent participants an evaluation questionnaire. We analysed timeliness, completeness, acceptability and validity.
RESULTS
One hundred and two participants submitted 225 analysable swabs. Ninety per cent of swabs were taken within 3 days of symptom onset. Eighty-nine per cent of swabs had a corresponding reported illness in the GrippeWeb system. Ninety-nine per cent of adults and 96% of children would be willing to participate in a self-swabbing scheme for a longer period. All swabs contained c-myc-DNA. In 119 swabs, we identified any of 14 viruses but no bacteria. The positivity rate of influenza was similar to that in the German physician sentinel.
CONCLUSION
Self-collection of anterior nasal swabs proofed to be feasible, was well accepted by participants, gave valid results and was an informative adjunct to syndromic data.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30925029
doi: 10.1111/irv.12644
pmc: PMC6586186
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
319-330Informations de copyright
© 2019 The Authors. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Références
Euro Surveill. 2007 Jul 01;12(7):E5-6
pubmed: 17991409
Am J Epidemiol. 2010 Jun 1;171(11):1157-64
pubmed: 20439308
Am J Public Health. 2015 Oct;105(10):2124-30
pubmed: 26270299
Euro Surveill. 2015 Mar 19;20(11):
pubmed: 25811646
J Virol Methods. 2009 Mar;156(1-2):102-6
pubmed: 19041346
Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2009 Sep;33(3):316-22
pubmed: 20043602
Euro Surveill. 2015 Mar 12;20(10):21058
pubmed: 25788252
Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2019 Jul;13(4):319-330
pubmed: 30925029
J Med Internet Res. 2018 Mar 01;20(3):e71
pubmed: 29496658
BMC Public Health. 2006 Oct 04;6:242
pubmed: 17018161
PLoS One. 2011;6(6):e21335
pubmed: 21731708
Euro Surveill. 2014 Jan 30;19(4):
pubmed: 24507468
J Clin Microbiol. 1999 Dec;37(12):3971-4
pubmed: 10565916
PLoS Curr. 2015 May 27;7:
pubmed: 26075141
Clin Microbiol Infect. 2014 Jan;20(1):17-21
pubmed: 24350723
PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e48508
pubmed: 23155387