An Online Influenza Surveillance System for Primary Care Workers in Switzerland: Observational Prospective Pilot Study.
Adult
Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
Communicable Disease Control
/ methods
Coronavirus Infections
/ diagnosis
Feasibility Studies
Female
Health Personnel
Health Surveys
Humans
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
Influenza, Human
/ diagnosis
Male
Mass Screening
/ methods
Middle Aged
Online Systems
Pandemics
Pilot Projects
Pneumonia, Viral
/ diagnosis
Population Surveillance
/ methods
Prevalence
Primary Health Care
Prospective Studies
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
SARS-CoV-2
Switzerland
influenza
nosocomial
online
primary care
surveillance system
transmission
Journal
JMIR public health and surveillance
ISSN: 2369-2960
Titre abrégé: JMIR Public Health Surveill
Pays: Canada
ID NLM: 101669345
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
10 09 2020
10 09 2020
Historique:
received:
28
11
2019
accepted:
29
05
2020
revised:
28
05
2020
entrez:
10
9
2020
pubmed:
11
9
2020
medline:
3
10
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
A better understanding of the influenza epidemiology among primary care workers could guide future recommendations to prevent transmission in primary care practices. Therefore, we designed a pilot study to assess the feasibility of using a work-based online influenza surveillance system among primary care workers. Such an approach is of particular relevance in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as its findings could apply to other infectious diseases with similar mechanisms of transmission. This study aims to determine the feasibility of using a work-based online influenza surveillance system for primary care workers in Switzerland. Physicians and staff of one walk-in clinic and two selected primary care practices were enrolled in this observational prospective pilot study during the 2017-2018 influenza season. They were invited to record symptoms of influenza-like illness in a weekly online survey sent by email and to self-collect a nasopharyngeal swab in case any symptoms were recorded. Samples were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction for influenza A, influenza B, and a panel of respiratory pathogens. Among 67 eligible staff members, 58% (n=39) consented to the study and 53% (n=36) provided data. From the time all participants were included, the weekly survey response rate stayed close to 100% until the end of the study. Of 79 symptomatic episodes (mean 2.2 episodes per participant), 10 episodes in 7 participants fitted the definition of an influenza-like illness case (attack rate: 7/36, 19%). One swab tested positive for influenza A H1N1 (attack rate: 3%, 95% CI 0%-18%). Swabbing was considered relatively easy. A work-based online influenza surveillance system is feasible for use among primary care workers. This promising methodology could be broadly used in future studies to improve the understanding of influenza epidemiology and other diseases such as COVID-19. This could prove to be highly useful in primary care settings and guide future recommendations to prevent transmission. A larger study will also help to assess asymptomatic infections.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
A better understanding of the influenza epidemiology among primary care workers could guide future recommendations to prevent transmission in primary care practices. Therefore, we designed a pilot study to assess the feasibility of using a work-based online influenza surveillance system among primary care workers. Such an approach is of particular relevance in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as its findings could apply to other infectious diseases with similar mechanisms of transmission.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to determine the feasibility of using a work-based online influenza surveillance system for primary care workers in Switzerland.
METHODS
Physicians and staff of one walk-in clinic and two selected primary care practices were enrolled in this observational prospective pilot study during the 2017-2018 influenza season. They were invited to record symptoms of influenza-like illness in a weekly online survey sent by email and to self-collect a nasopharyngeal swab in case any symptoms were recorded. Samples were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction for influenza A, influenza B, and a panel of respiratory pathogens.
RESULTS
Among 67 eligible staff members, 58% (n=39) consented to the study and 53% (n=36) provided data. From the time all participants were included, the weekly survey response rate stayed close to 100% until the end of the study. Of 79 symptomatic episodes (mean 2.2 episodes per participant), 10 episodes in 7 participants fitted the definition of an influenza-like illness case (attack rate: 7/36, 19%). One swab tested positive for influenza A H1N1 (attack rate: 3%, 95% CI 0%-18%). Swabbing was considered relatively easy.
CONCLUSIONS
A work-based online influenza surveillance system is feasible for use among primary care workers. This promising methodology could be broadly used in future studies to improve the understanding of influenza epidemiology and other diseases such as COVID-19. This could prove to be highly useful in primary care settings and guide future recommendations to prevent transmission. A larger study will also help to assess asymptomatic infections.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32909955
pii: v6i3e17242
doi: 10.2196/17242
pmc: PMC7516689
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Observational Study
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e17242Informations de copyright
©Sébastien Martin, Muriel Nirina Maeder, Ana Rita Gonçalves, Baptiste Pedrazzini, Jean Perdrix, Carine Rochat, Nicolas Senn, Yolanda Mueller. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (http://publichealth.jmir.org), 10.09.2020.
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