TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluation of the enterovirus laboratory surveillance system in Denmark, 2010 to 2013

AU - Condell, Orla

AU - Midgley, Sofie

AU - Christiansen, C B

AU - Chen, M

AU - Nielsen, X Chen

AU - Ellermann-Eriksen, S

AU - Mølvadgaard, M

AU - Schønning, K

AU - Vermedal Hoegh, Silje

AU - Andersen, P H

AU - Voldstedlund, Marianne

AU - Fischer, T K

PY - 2016/5/5

Y1 - 2016/5/5

N2 - The primary aim of the Danish enterovirus (EV) surveillance system is to document absence of poliovirus infection. The conflict in Syria has left many children unvaccinated and movement from areas with polio cases to Europe calls for increased awareness to detect and respond to virus-transmission in a timely manner. We evaluate the national EV laboratory surveillance, to generate recommendations for system strengthening. The system was analysed for completeness of viral typing analysis and clinical information and timeliness of specimen collection, laboratory results and reporting of clinical information. Of 23,720 specimens screened, 2,202 (9.3%) were EV-positive. Submission of cerebrospinal fluid and faecal specimens from primary diagnostic laboratories was 79.5% complete (845/1,063), and varied by laboratory and patient age. EV genotypes were determined in 68.5% (979/1,430) of laboratory-confirmed cases, clinical information was available for 63.1% (903/1,430). Primary diagnostic results were available after a median of 1.4 days, typing results after 17 days, detailed clinical information after 33 days. The large number of samples typed demonstrated continued monitoring of EV-circulation in Denmark. The system could be strengthened by increasing the collection of supplementary faecal specimens, improving communication with primary diagnostic laboratories, adapting the laboratory typing methodology and collecting clinical information with electronic forms.

AB - The primary aim of the Danish enterovirus (EV) surveillance system is to document absence of poliovirus infection. The conflict in Syria has left many children unvaccinated and movement from areas with polio cases to Europe calls for increased awareness to detect and respond to virus-transmission in a timely manner. We evaluate the national EV laboratory surveillance, to generate recommendations for system strengthening. The system was analysed for completeness of viral typing analysis and clinical information and timeliness of specimen collection, laboratory results and reporting of clinical information. Of 23,720 specimens screened, 2,202 (9.3%) were EV-positive. Submission of cerebrospinal fluid and faecal specimens from primary diagnostic laboratories was 79.5% complete (845/1,063), and varied by laboratory and patient age. EV genotypes were determined in 68.5% (979/1,430) of laboratory-confirmed cases, clinical information was available for 63.1% (903/1,430). Primary diagnostic results were available after a median of 1.4 days, typing results after 17 days, detailed clinical information after 33 days. The large number of samples typed demonstrated continued monitoring of EV-circulation in Denmark. The system could be strengthened by increasing the collection of supplementary faecal specimens, improving communication with primary diagnostic laboratories, adapting the laboratory typing methodology and collecting clinical information with electronic forms.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Child

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Clinical Laboratory Techniques

KW - Denmark

KW - Disease Eradication

KW - Disease Notification

KW - Enterovirus

KW - Enterovirus Infections

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Infant

KW - Infant, Newborn

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Population Surveillance

KW - Prevalence

KW - Quality Assurance, Health Care

KW - Reproducibility of Results

KW - Sensitivity and Specificity

KW - Young Adult

KW - Evaluation Studies

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.18.30218

DO - 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.18.30218

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27173593

VL - 21

SP - 1

EP - 12

JO - Eurosurveillance

JF - Eurosurveillance

SN - 1025-496X

IS - 18

M1 - 3

ER -