Related Experiment Videos
Validity of electronic surveillance systems: a systematic review
1Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary Health Region, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The Journal of Hospital Infection
|June 14, 2008
Summary
Electronic surveillance using databases is more efficient for detecting nosocomial infections than traditional methods. Further research is needed to improve electronic algorithms, particularly for community-onset infections.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Traditional infection surveillance methods are often less efficient than electronic approaches.
- The validity and comparative utility of electronic surveillance require systematic evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and compare the utility of electronic surveillance methods versus conventional methods for detecting infections.
- To assess the sensitivity and specificity of various electronic surveillance data sources.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of studies published between 1980 and 2007, identified via Medline and bibliographic searches.
- Analysis of 24 studies comparing electronic and conventional surveillance for nosocomial and community-acquired infections.
- Evaluation of data from microbiology, administrative databases (e.g., ICD-9-CM, pharmacy), and combined sources.
Main Results:
- Electronic surveillance using microbiology data alone showed good sensitivity (63-91%) and excellent specificity (>99%) for nosocomial infections.
- Administrative data (discharge coding, pharmacy) demonstrated good sensitivity (59-96%) and excellent specificity (95% to >99%).
- Combined laboratory and administrative data yielded higher sensitivity (71-94%) but lower specificity (47% to >99%) compared to single data sources.
Conclusions:
- Electronic surveillance offers moderate to excellent utility for detecting nosocomial infections compared to conventional methods.
- Further refinement of electronic surveillance algorithms is necessary, especially for accurately identifying community-onset infections.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Principles of Disease Surveillance
Disease surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. This process integrates data dissemination to entities responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Surveillance systems provide crucial information for action, helping public health authorities make informed decisions to manage and prevent outbreaks, ensure public safety, optimize...
01:19Pharmacovigilance
Post-marketing surveillance is a critical component of pharmaceutical regulation, often uncovering unanticipated adverse drug reactions (ADRs) once a drug is widely used over an extended period.
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
02:16Surveys
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.