Criteria for selecting sentinel unit locations in a surveillance system for vector-borne disease: A decision tool

Guillot, Camille; Bouchard, Catherine; Aenishaenslin, Cécile; Berthiaume, Pierre; Milord, François; Leighton, Patrick A.

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1003949

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 124 publications

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“…However, having more sentinels in underrepresented areas will enhance the local resolution of HFMD occurrence. Even if the current sentinel sites are based on population, other factors, including location, distance between sites, and population density, should be considered when designating new sentinel sites [ 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Sentinel Surveillance System in South Korea: Retrospective Evaluation Study

Kim,

Achangwa,

Cho

et al. 2024

JMIR Public Health Surveill

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Background South Korea has implemented a hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) surveillance system since 2009 to monitor incidence trends and identify disease burden. This nationwide surveillance involves a network of approximately 100 pediatric clinics that report all probable and confirmed HFMD cases. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious disease surveillance systems must be evaluated to ensure the effective use of limited public health resources. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the HFMD sentinel surveillance system in South Korea from 2017 to 2022, focusing on the transition period after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the HFMD sentinel surveillance system from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency using systematic guidelines for public health surveillance system evaluation developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We assessed the system’s overall performance in 5 main factors: timeliness, stability, completeness, sensitivity, and representativeness (ie, the age and geographic distribution of sentinels). We rated these factors as weak, moderate, or good. Results Our study showed that the completeness, sensitivity, and age representativeness of the HFMD surveillance performance were temporarily reduced to moderate levels from 2020 to 2021 and recovered in 2022, while the timeliness and geographic representativeness were maintained at a good level throughout the study period. The stability of the surveillance was moderate from 2017 to 2021 and weak in 2022. Conclusions This is the first study to evaluate the HFMD surveillance system after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified a temporarily reduced level of performance (ie, completeness, sensitivity, and age-specific representativeness) during the acute phase of the pandemic and good performance in 2022. Surveillance system evaluation and maintenance during public health emergencies will provide robust and reliable data to support public health policy development. Regular staff training programs and reducing staff turnover will improve HFMD surveillance system stability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Sentinel Surveillance System in South Korea: Retrospective Evaluation Study

Kim,

Achangwa,

Cho

et al. 2024

JMIR Public Health Surveill

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“…Most sites submitted samples over the evaluation period. Continuous submission of samples by sentinel sites is critical for the functionality of YF surveillance system 22 . One site, Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, stopped submitting samples in 2020, during a period when it was restricted to providing only COVID-19 management services.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the sentinel yellow fever surveillance system in Uganda, 2017–2022: strengths and weaknesses

Wanyana,

King,

Migisha

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background Uganda has a sentinel surveillance system in seven high-risk sites to monitor yellow fever (YF) patterns and detect outbreaks. We evaluated the performance of this system from 2017–2022. Methods We evaluated selected attributes, including timeliness (lags between different critical time points), external completeness (proportion of expected sentinel sites reporting ≥ 1 suspect case in the system annually), and internal completeness (proportion of reports with the minimum required data elements filled), using secondary data in the YF surveillance database from January 2017–July 2022. We conducted key informant interviews with stakeholders at health facility and national level to assess usefulness, flexibility, simplicity, and acceptability of the surveillance system. Results In total, 3,073 suspected and 15 confirmed YF cases were reported. The median time lag from sample collection to laboratory shipment was 37 days (IQR:21–54). External completeness was 76%; internal completeness was 65%. Stakeholders felt that the surveillance system was simple and acceptable, but were uncertain about flexibility. Most (71%) YF cases in previous outbreaks were detected through the sentinel surveillance system; data were used to inform interventions such as intensified YF vaccination. Conclusion The YF sentinel surveillance system was useful in detecting outbreaks and informing public health action. Delays in case confirmation and incomplete data compromised its overall effectiveness and efficiency.

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“…A decision tool had been previously developed to help researchers and public health authorities decide on geographical positioning of sentinel locations for vector-borne disease- surveillance [ 34 ]. The output of the tool is a list of criteria which should be considered during site selection.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial multi-criteria decision analysis for the selection of sentinel regions in tick-borne disease surveillance

Guillot,

Aenishaenslin,

Acheson

et al. 2024

BMC Public Health

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Background The implementation of cost-effective surveillance systems is essential for tracking the emerging risk of tick-borne diseases. In Canada, where Lyme disease is a growing public health concern, a national sentinel surveillance network was designed to follow the epidemiological portrait of this tick-borne disease across the country. The surveillance network consists of sentinel regions, with active drag sampling carried out annually in all regions to assess the density of Ixodes spp. ticks and prevalence of various tick-borne pathogens in the tick population. The aim of the present study was to prioritize sentinel regions by integrating different spatial criteria relevant to the surveillance goals. Methods We used spatially-explicit multi-criteria decision analyses (MCDA) to map priority areas for surveillance across Canada, and to evaluate different scenarios using sensitivity analyses. Results were shared with stakeholders to support their decision making for the selection of priority areas to survey during active surveillance activities. Results Weights attributed to criteria by decision-makers were overall consistent. Sensitivity analyses showed that the population criterion had the most impact on rankings. Thirty-seven sentinel regions were identified across Canada using this systematic and transparent approach. Conclusion This novel application of spatial MCDA to surveillance network design favors inclusivity of nationwide partners. We propose that such an approach can support the standardized planning of spatial design of sentinel surveillance not only for vector-borne disease BDs, but more broadly for infectious disease surveillance where spatial design is an important component.

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Criteria for selecting sentinel unit locations in a surveillance system for vector-borne disease: A decision tool

Cited by 8 publications

References 124 publications

The Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Sentinel Surveillance System in South Korea: Retrospective Evaluation Study

The Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Sentinel Surveillance System in South Korea: Retrospective Evaluation Study

Evaluation of the sentinel yellow fever surveillance system in Uganda, 2017–2022: strengths and weaknesses

Spatial multi-criteria decision analysis for the selection of sentinel regions in tick-borne disease surveillance

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