Sentinel physician's network in Reunion Island: A tool for infectious diseases surveillance

Brottet, Elise; Jaffar‐Bandjee, Marie‐Christine; Rachou, Emmanuelle; Polycarpe, D; Ristor, B.; Larrieu, Sophie; Filleul, Laurent

doi:10.1016/j.medmal.2014.11.004

Cited by 8 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The sentinel GPs' network is based on 56 volunteer GPs located throughout the island, who report to the regional office of the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (Cire OI) the weekly number of consultations for acute respiratory infections and acute diarrhoea and the total number of consultations [10,11]. These GPs are easily mobilised at the onset of any health event on the island and they can be asked to add specific items to their weekly report.…”

Section: Epidemiological Surveillancementioning

confidence: 99%

A major outbreak of conjunctivitis caused by coxsackievirus A24, Réunion, January to April 2015

et al. 2016

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From January to April 2015, Réunion experienced a major outbreak of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) caused by coxsackievirus A24, which heavily impacted the healthcare system. According to the general practitioners’ (GP) sentinel network, the number of medical consultations due to conjunctivitis during this period was estimated at ca 100,000. This report describes the characteristics of the outbreak, which were obtained through several different yet complementary surveillance systems on the island. These included the network of hospital emergency departments (OSCOUR network), the GPs’ sentinel network, an Internet-based population cohort (‘Koman i lé’) participating in a survey on distinct symptoms including ‘red eyes’ and the monitoring of eye drop sales. Overall the results of the different surveillance approaches were in good agreement regarding the outbreak dynamic. A peak of patients with conjunctivitis was detected in the first 15 days of March (week 10 and 11), coinciding with increased eye drop sales on the island. Strains recovered from outbreak cases belonged to genotype IV and were most closely related to strains identified in AHC outbreaks in China, Egypt and Japan since 2010. Continued surveillance of AHC in Réunion remains important not only locally, but also because frequent exchanges between the island and mainland France may lead to introduction of this virus in Europe.

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Section: Epidemiological Surveillancementioning

confidence: 99%

A major outbreak of conjunctivitis caused by coxsackievirus A24, Réunion, January to April 2015

et al. 2016

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“…Since 1996, clinical and biological influenza surveillance has been based on a sentinel practitioner's network [6]. In 2014, this network was composed of 58 general practitioners (GPs) spread over the island and represented around 7% of all Réunion Island GPs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Etiology of Influenza-Like Illnesses from Sentinel Network Practitioners in Réunion Island, 2011-2012

et al. 2016

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In Réunion Island, despite an influenza surveillance established since 1996 by the sentinel general practitioner’s network, little is known about the etiology of Influenza like-illness (ILI) that differs from influenza viruses in a tropical area. We set up a retrospective study using nasal swabs collected by sentinel GPs from ILI patients in 2011 and 2012. A total of 250 swabs were randomly selected and analyzed by multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) including research of 18 viruses and 4 bacteria. We detected respiratory viruses in 169/222 (76.1%) samples, mostly rhinovirus (23.4%), influenza A virus (21.2%), influenza B virus (12.6%), coronavirus (4.9%) and Human metapneumovirus (3.6%). Nine swabs (5.3% of positive swabs) revealed co-infections with two viruses identified, among which six concerned co-infections with influenza viruses. We observed important seasonal differences, with circulation of Human Metapneumoviruses, RSV A and B and coronavirus only during summer; whereas parainfluenza viruses were identified only during winter. In conclusion, this study highlights a substantial circulation of multiple respiratory pathogens in Réunion Island throughout the year. It shows that ILI are not only attributable to influenza and underlines the need for biological surveillance. As the use of multiplex RT-PCR showed its efficacy, it is now used routinely in the surveillance of ILI.

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“…This syndromic approach was in phase with regional health agency preoccupations because of the recurrent occurrences of leptospirosis but also taking into account the unprecedented major CHIKV outbreak in 2005–2006 and the regular number of clustered cases of DENV [22]. On the one hand, the use of a syndromic panel is appealing for economic reasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simultaneous detection of chikungunya virus, dengue virus and human pathogenic Leptospira genomes using a multiplex TaqMan® assay

et al. 2017

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BackgroundIn 2005–2006 a major epidemics of Chikungunya disease occurred in South-West Indian Ocean islands. In Reunion Island, the magnitude of Chikungunya infection related symptoms was high and with over 38% of serological prevalence in the population. This epidemics illustrated the potential threat of emerging arboviral diseases for inhabitants of Reunion Island and elsewhere since vectors are worldwide distributed. A sentinel surveillance network was set-up to detect emerging pathogens associated with fever over 38 °C and in the absence of known etiologic causes. Leptospirosis is caused by a pathogenic spirochete of the Leptospira genus and is an endemic and recurrent seasonal disease of great concern in Reunion Island. To accurately diagnose potentially infected patients and to advise Health authorities on the presence of emerging pathogens, a rapid diagnostic test was needed that could differentiate between these 3 pathogens.MethodsA one-step multiplex real-time PCR assay was developed that can simultaneously detect RNA of Chikungunya and Dengue viruses and leptospiral DNA with good performance for a routine diagnostic use.ResultsSimplex protocols already published were used with key modifications to implement a triplex assay which was set-up with a small reaction volume to improve cost efficiency.ConclusionsThis approach has enabled greater diagnostic capacity in our laboratory. We established a multiplex approach validated and valuable for cost savings, and with the concurrent detection of 3 pathogens of public health concern.

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Sentinel physician's network in Reunion Island: A tool for infectious diseases surveillance

Cited by 8 publications

References 12 publications

A major outbreak of conjunctivitis caused by coxsackievirus A24, Réunion, January to April 2015

A major outbreak of conjunctivitis caused by coxsackievirus A24, Réunion, January to April 2015

Etiology of Influenza-Like Illnesses from Sentinel Network Practitioners in Réunion Island, 2011-2012

Simultaneous detection of chikungunya virus, dengue virus and human pathogenic Leptospira genomes using a multiplex TaqMan® assay

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