Multi-Pathogen Surveillance of Acute Febrile Illness in Nigeria Using TaqMan Array Cards: Implementation Successes...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Public Health Surveillance

Background:

• Undiagnosed acute febrile illness (AFI) poses a significant challenge in Nigeria.
• Malaria is often presumed without definitive diagnostic confirmation, hindering accurate etiological identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To expand diagnostic capacity for AFI in Nigeria.
• To identify a broader spectrum of AFI etiologies using molecular methods.
• To summarize operational lessons from implementing the TaqMan Array Card (TAC) platform.

Main Methods:

• The Surveillance of Acute Febrile Illness Aetiology in Nigeria (SAFIAN) study utilized the TaqMan Array Card (TAC) platform.
• TAC was used to test febrile patients for 25 different pathogens at two tertiary hospitals.
• Key implementation components included platform selection, procurement, laboratory preparation, staff training, and quality control.

Main Results:

• Implementation faced constraints such as procurement delays, sample contamination, and assay underperformance.
• Procedural inefficiencies were identified during the introduction of TAC technology.
• Successful integration requires strong site coordination, real-time tracking, and cross-team collaboration.

Conclusions:

• The SAFIAN study highlights the operational lessons learned from introducing advanced molecular diagnostics in a high-burden setting.
• Sustained investment in infrastructure and workforce capacity is crucial for improving AFI detection and response.
• Effective integration of TAC technology necessitates robust logistical and collaborative frameworks.