Implementing hospital-based surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections caused by influenza and other respiratory pathogens in New Zealand

Authors

  • Q. Sue Huang Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Michael Baker University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Colin McArthur Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Sally Roberts Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Deborah Williamson Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand; Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand; University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Cameron Grant University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Adrian Trenholme Counties Manakau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Conroy Wong Counties Manakau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Susan Taylor Counties Manakau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Lyndsay LeComte Counties Manakau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Graham Mackereth Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Don Bandaranayake Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Tim Wood Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Ange Bissielo Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Ruth Seeds Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Nikki Turner University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Nevil Pierse University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
  • Richard Webby WHO Collaborating Centre, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
  • Paul Thomas WHO Collaborating Centre, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
  • Diane Gross Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, United States of America
  • Jazmin Duque Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, United States of America
  • Mark Thompson Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, United States of America
  • Marc-Alain Widdowson Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, United States of America

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2014.5.1.004

Abstract

Background: Recent experience with pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 highlighted the importance of global surveillance for severe respiratory disease to support pandemic preparedness and seasonal influenza control. Improved surveillance in the southern hemisphere is needed to provide critical data on influenza epidemiology, disease burden, circulating strains and effectiveness of influenza prevention and control measures. Hospital-based surveillance for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases was established in New Zealand on 30 April 2012. The aims were to measure incidence, prevalence, risk factors, clinical spectrum and outcomes for SARI and associated influenza and other respiratory pathogen cases as well as to understand influenza contribution to patients not meeting SARI case definition.

Methods/Design: All inpatients with suspected respiratory infections who were admitted overnight to the study hospitals were screened daily. If a patient met the World Health Organization’s SARI case definition, a respiratory specimen was tested for influenza and other respiratory pathogens. A case report form captured demographics, history of presenting illness, co-morbidities, disease course and outcome and risk factors. These data were supplemented from electronic clinical records and other linked data sources.

Discussion: Hospital-based SARI surveillance has been implemented and is fully functioning in New Zealand. Active, prospective, continuous, hospital-based SARI surveillance is useful in supporting pandemic preparedness for emerging influenza A(H7N9) virus infections and seasonal influenza prevention and control.

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Published

20-05-2014

How to Cite

1.
Huang QS, Baker M, McArthur C, Roberts S, Williamson D, Grant C, Trenholme A, Wong C, Taylor S, LeComte L, Mackereth G, Bandaranayake D, Wood T, Bissielo A, Seeds R, Turner N, Pierse N, Webby R, Thomas P, Gross D, Duque J, Thompson M, Widdowson M-A. Implementing hospital-based surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections caused by influenza and other respiratory pathogens in New Zealand. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2014 May 20 [cited 2026 Mar. 22];5(2). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/235

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2014): April – June

Section

Surveillance System Implementation / Evaluation

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