國家衛生研究院 NHRI:Item 3990099045/3452

NHRI > National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology > Ih-Jen Su(2002-2015) > Periodical Articles > Item 3990099045/3452

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://ir.nhri.org.tw/handle/3990099045/3452

Title:	Establishing a nationwide emergency department-based syndromic surveillance system for better public health responses in Taiwan
Authors:	Wu, TSJ;Shih, FYF;Yen, MY;Wu, JSJ;Lu, SW;Chang, KCM;Hsiung, C;Chou Jr, H;Chu, YT;Chang, H;Chiu, CH;Tsui, FCR;Wagner, MM;Su, IJ;King, CC
Contributors:	Division of Clinical Research;Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
Abstract:	Background. With international concern over emerging infectious diseases (EID) and bioterrorist attacks, public health is being required to have early outbreak detection systems. A disease surveillance team was organized to establish a hospital emergency department-based syndromic surveillance system (ED-SSS) capable of automatically transmitting patient data electronically from the hospitals responsible for emergency care throughout the country to the Centers for Disease Control in Taiwan (Taiwan-CDC) starting March, 2004. This report describes the challenges and steps involved in developing ED-SSS and the timely information it provides to improve in public health decision-making. Methods. Between June 2003 and March 2004, after comparing various surveillance systems used around the world and consulting with ED physicians, pediatricians and internal medicine physicians involved in infectious disease control, the Syndromic Surveillance Research Team in Taiwan worked with the Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS) Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh to create Taiwan's ED-SSS. The system was evaluated by analyzing daily electronic ED data received in real-time from the 189 hospitals participating in this system between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2005. Results. Taiwan's ED-SSS identified winter and summer spikes in two syndrome groups: influenza-like illnesses and respiratory syndrome illnesses, while total numbers of ED visits were significantly higher on weekends, national holidays and the days of Chinese lunar new year than weekdays (p < 0.001). It also identified increases in the upper, lower, and total gastrointestinal (GI) syndrome groups starting in November 2004 and two clear spikes in enterovirus-like infections coinciding with the two school semesters. Using ED-SSS for surveillance of influenza-like illnesses and enteroviruses-related infections has improved Taiwan's pandemic flu preparedness and disease control capabilities. Conclusion. Taiwan's ED-SSS represents the first nationwide real-time syndromic surveillance system ever established in Asia. The experiences reported herein can encourage other countries to develop their own surveillance systems. The system can be adapted to other cultural and language environments for better global surveillance of infectious diseases and international collaboration. ? 2008 Wu et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Date:	2008-01-18
Relation:	BMC Public Health. 2008 Jan 18;8:Article number 18.
Link to:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-8-18
JIF/Ranking 2023:	http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=NHRI&SrcApp=NHRI_IR&KeyISSN=1471-2458&DestApp=IC2JCR
Cited Times(WOS):	https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000253421800001
Cited Times(Scopus):	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=39749197606
Appears in Collections:	[Ih-Jen Su(2002-2015)] Periodical Articles [Chao A. Hsiung] Periodical Articles

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