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Updated: Dec 17, 2025
Remote Laboratory Management: Respiratory Virus Diagnostics
Published on: April 6, 2019
Active surveillance for acute respiratory infections among pediatric long-term care facility staff
Sibyl Wilmont1, Natalie Neu1, Alexandra Hill-Ricciuti1
1Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY.
Insights
Electronic messaging is a feasible method for tracking acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among staff in pediatric long-term care facilities (pLTCFs). This surveillance approach achieved a high response rate and detected various respiratory viruses.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Surveillance
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Healthcare-Associated Infections
Background:
- Respiratory viruses can transmit between staff and residents in pediatric long-term care facilities (pLTCFs).
- Effective surveillance is crucial to monitor and control infections in these vulnerable settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using text or email messages for acute respiratory infection (ARI) surveillance among staff in pLTCFs.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of electronic messaging in detecting viral respiratory infections in a healthcare setting.
Main Methods:
- Fifty staff participants from two pLTCFs were enrolled in a surveillance study from December 2016 to May 2017.
- Participants received weekly text or email messages to report ARI symptoms; those meeting the case definition had respiratory specimens collected.
- Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were used for viral detection; pre- and post-surveillance specimens were collected to assess subclinical shedding.
Main Results:
- A high response rate of 93% was achieved for weekly electronic messages.
- Twenty-one ARIs were reported by 20 participants (40%), with respiratory viruses detected in 29% of symptomatic specimens.
- Identified viruses included influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus, coronaviruses (CoV), rhinovirus (RV), and bocavirus; subclinical shedding was also detected.
Conclusions:
- Electronic messaging is a feasible and effective method for conducting ARI surveillance among staff in pLTCFs.
- This approach can facilitate timely detection of viral respiratory infections, aiding in infection control efforts.
Background:
Transmission of respiratory viruses between staff and residents of pediatric long-term care facilities (pLTCFs) can occur. We assessed the feasibility of using text or email messages to perform surveillance for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among staff.
Methods:
From December 7, 2016 to May 7, 2017, 50 staff participants from 2 pLTCFs received weekly text or email requests to report the presence or absence of ARI symptoms. Those who fulfilled the ARI case definition (≥2 symptoms) had respiratory specimens collected to detect viruses by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays. Pre- and postsurveillance respiratory specimens were collected to assess subclinical viral shedding.
Results:
The response rate to weekly electronic messages was 93%. Twenty-one ARIs reported from 20 (40%) participants fulfilled the case definition. Respiratory viruses were detected in 29% (5/17) of specimens collected at symptom onset (influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus [CoV] 229E, rhinovirus [RV], and dual detection of CoV OC43 and bocavirus). Four participants had positive presurveillance (4 RV), and 6 had positive postsurveillance specimens (3 RV, 2 CoV NL63, and 1 adenovirus).
Conclusions:
Electronic messaging to conduct ARI surveillance among pLTCF staff was feasible.
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