scholarly journals The impact of implementing Egypt Pandemic preparedness plan for acute respiratory infections in combating the early stage of COVID-19 Pandemic, February-July 2020 (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanaa Ghonim ◽  
Shimaa Ali Abu Kamer ◽  
Reham Kamel ◽  
Hesham Magdy ◽  
Fatma S. Osman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
National Surveillance ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
Plan Implementation ◽  
Preparedness Plan ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness Plan

BACKGROUND Egypt is a transcontinental country in the Middle East. Most of the country is situated in northeastern Africa with the Sinai Peninsula located in Western Asia. The country covers an area of 1 million km² and has a coastline at the Mediterranean Sea in north, and the Red Sea in east. Most of its population are concentrated along the banks of the Nile, and on the river's delta, with only about 3% of the territory is inhabited. Egypt population are more than 100 million inhabitants, GDP per capita in 2017 was $10,799. Life expectancy was 74.4 in females and 68.0 in males and under 5 mortality rate was 19.2. The main causes of death in Egypt are Ischemic heart diseases, stroke and cirrhosis, healthcare access and quality index are 58.0 and the governmental health spending per person was $39 in 2018. (IHME 2020) The beginning of COVID-19 epidemic in Egypt On December 1st, 2019 cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause was noticed in Wuhan, China. On the 31st of December 2019 China announced an epidemic of acute respiratory disease of unknown cause (She 2020). As soon as the epidemic was announced and before WHO announce a pandemic, Egypt Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) started to adapt its ARI pandemic preparedness plan to apply to the anticipated pandemic. Egypt is considered one of the oldest countries to monitor infectious diseases through a national surveillance system for reporting infectious diseases that was established in Egypt back in 1946. Egypt national surveillance was assessed, enhanced, and expanded to include all governmental healthcare facilities in 1999. The National Egyptian surveillance (NEDSS) targeting 40 communicable diseases including Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) has electronic reporting element (Madiha 2017). A comprehensive network of epidemiological and laboratory vertical system for reporting ARIs was developed in 2009 with an alert system for early detection of novel respiratory viruses. The network covers all the country and composes of surveillance systems targeting severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), influenza like illness (ILI), pneumonia, avian influenza and MERS-CoV. Event-based surveillance was introduced in Egypt in 2009 in response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic to help timely detection and response to possible epidemics. This viewpoint aims at review and discuss the preventive and control measures that have been implemented by MoHP Egypt in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to share Egypt experience with the public health practitioners and authorities for better response to such events in the future. The specific objective of the preparedness plan for response to COVID-19 is to reduce morbidity and mortality in the event of a COVID-19 epidemic in Egypt. OBJECTIVE To briefly describe Egypt acute respiratory infections (ARIs) epidemic preparedness and containment plan. In addition to find out the effect of plan implementation in combating the early stage of COVID-19 epidemic in Egypt. METHODS Egypt preparedness 5 pillars ARI preparedness plan was briefly described. Pillars are: Crisis management, enhancing surveillance systems and contact tracing, case, and hospital management, raise community awareness, quarantine, and entry points. To identify the impact of plan implementation, all COVID-19 patients data February-July 2020 was obtained from Egypt national disease surveillance. Descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the epidemic situation in the early stage of the epidemic in Egypt. RESULTS Overall, 102,789 COVID-19 cases were reported to NEDSS in the study period including 78,048 (43.2%) confirmed COVID-19 cases giving an attack rate of 77.0 case/1,000,000 population, and 3,457 (4.4%) deaths due to COVID-19. Of all cases 44,969 (57.6%) had mild symptoms, 71.5% were > 53 years. Growth rate and R0 declines 1.18 to 0.13 and 6.5 to 1.6, respectively, while doubling time increased from 1.8 to 15.6 days by the end of July 2020. CONCLUSIONS Egypt was successful in mitigating the early stage of COVID-19 epidemic. Commitment of all partners to implementation of the ARI epidemic preparedness plan helped in flattening the curve and containing the epidemic. Post-epidemic evaluation is needed to better assess Egypt national response against COVID-19 epidemic.

scholarly journals Pandemic influenza in a southern hemisphere setting: the experience in Peru from May to September, 2009

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (42) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Gómez ◽  
C V Munayco ◽  
J C Arrasco ◽  
L Suarez ◽  
V A Laguna-Torres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
H1n1 Influenza ◽  
Sentinel Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 ◽  
Pandemic H1n1 Influenza ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents a description of Peru’s experience with pandemic H1N1 influenza 2009. It is based on data from four main surveillance systems: a) ongoing sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illness cases with virological surveillance of influenza and other respiratory viruses; b) sentinel surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections and associated deaths; c) surveillance of acute respiratory infections in children under the age of five years and pneumonia in all age groups; and d) case and cluster surveillance. On 9 May 2009, the first confirmed case of pandemic H1N1 influenza in Peru was diagnosed in a Peruvian citizen returning from New York with a respiratory illness. By July, community transmission of influenza had been identified and until 27 September 2009, a total of 8,381 cases were confirmed. The incidence rate per 10,000 persons was 4.4 (in the 0–9 year-olds) and 4.1 (in the 10–19 year-olds). During epidemiological weeks (EW) 26 to 37, a total of 143 fatal cases were notified (a case fatality of 1.71%, based on confirmed cases). The maximum peak in the number of cases was reached in EW 30 with 37 deaths. Currently, the impact of the pandemic in the Peruvian population has not been too severe, and fortunately, healthcare centres have not been overwhelmed. However, the future of this pandemic is uncertain and despite the fact that our country has not been seriously affected, we should be prepared for upcoming pandemic waves.

scholarly journals 141. Implementation of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions for Asymptomatic Bacteriuria and Acute Respiratory Infections, a Stepped Wedge Randomized Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S81-S82
Author(s):  
Grace Mortrude ◽  
Mary Rehs ◽  
Katherine Sherman ◽  
Nathan Gundacker ◽  
Claire Dysart
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Stepped Wedge ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Outpatient antimicrobial prescribing is an important target for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions to decrease antimicrobial resistance in the United States. The objective of this study was to design, implement and evaluate the impact of AMS interventions focused on asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in the outpatient setting. Methods This randomized, stepped-wedge trial evaluated the impact of educational interventions to providers on adult patients presenting to primary care (PC) clinics for ARIs and ASB from 10/1/19 to 1/31/20. Data was collected by retrospective chart review. An antibiotic prescribing report card was provided to PC providers, then an educational session was delivered at each PC clinic. Patient education materials were distributed to PC clinics. Interventions were made in a step-wise (figure 1) fashion. The primary outcome was percentage of overall antibiotic prescriptions as a composite of prescriptions for ASB, acute bronchitis, upper-respiratory infection otherwise unspecified, uncomplicated sinusitis, and uncomplicated pharyngitis. Secondary outcomes included individual components of the primary outcome, a composite safety endpoint of related hospital, emergency department or primary care visit within 4 weeks, antibiotic appropriateness, and patient satisfaction surveys. Figure 1 Results There were 887 patients included for analysis (405 pre-intervention, 482 post-intervention). Baseline characteristics are summarized in table 1. After controlling for type 1 error using a Bonferroni correction the primary outcome was not significantly different between groups (56% vs 49%). There was a statistically significant decrease in prescriptions for bronchitis (20.99% vs 12.66%; p=0.0003). Appropriateness of prescriptions for sinusitis (OR 4.96; CI 1.79–13.75; p=0.0021) and pharyngitis (OR 5.36; CI 1.93 – 14.90; p=0.0013) was improved in the post-intervention group. The composite safety outcome and patient satisfaction survey ratings did not differ between groups. Table 1 Conclusion Multifaceted educational interventions targeting providers can improve antibiotic prescribing for indications rarely requiring antimicrobials without increasing re-visit or patient satisfaction surveys. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Enhanced surveillance for covid-19 response in Lagos State, Nigeria: lessons learnt, 2020 (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Chukwuemeka Umeh ◽  
Khalid Abubakar ◽  
Peter Akinmusire ◽  
Adamu M. Isa ◽  
Aminu Zauro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Industry ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Surveillance Strategy ◽  
Active Case ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Lagos State ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The SARS-CoV-2, the novel virus which causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has changed the world. No aspect of humanity is untouched from health, aviation, service industry, politics, economy, education, and entertainment to social and personal lives, since the outbreak of influenza-like illness in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The Lagos State COVID-19 response team deployed enhanced surveillance through Active Case Search (ACS) for Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) at health facilities and communities in the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Lagos State. Lagos State was the first state in Nigeria to deploy this specific surveillance strategy for Nigeria’s COVID-19 response. OBJECTIVE We documented the methods, findings, and review of the active case search for acute respiratory infections, part of COVID-19 response in 20 LGAs of Lagos State, between 1st April and 15th May 2020. METHODS We utilized descriptive and quantitative approaches to describe and assess the impact of the Active Case Search (ACS) for Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in health facilities and communities in 20 LGAs of Lagos State between 1st April and 15th May 2020. RESULTS We found a significant difference in mean scores of suspected COVID-19 cases (M=60, SD=109, before ACS for ARI compared to M=568, SD=732, after ACS for ARI, P=0.0039), confirmed cases (M=10, SD=19, before ACS for ARI compared to M=144, SD=187, after ACS for ARI, P=0.0028) and contacts (M=56, SD=116, before ACS for ARI compared to M=152, SD=177, after ACS for ARI, P=0.044) before and after ACS for ARI in 20 LGAs of Lagos State, between 1st April and 15th May 2020. CONCLUSIONS The deployment of the Lagos State government’s polio-eradication structure for the COVID-19 response is both innovative and effective. The response to COVID-19 requires robust surveillance, credible and timely communication, collaboration, coordination among government, inter-governmental organizations (e.g., WHO), non-governmental organizations, and citizens to succeed and limit the medical, economic, social, and personal losses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Climate indicators and the impact on morbidity and mortality of acute respiratory infections

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-20
Author(s):  
Amaury de Souza ◽  
Fernanda A. Andrade ◽  
Pelumi E. Oguntunde ◽  
Milica Arsic ◽  
Debora A.S. Silva
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Climate Indicators ◽  
The Impact

Population-Based Study of the Impact of Childcare Attendance on Hospitalizations for Acute Respiratory Infections

PEDIATRICS ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. 1439-1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kamper-Jorgensen ◽  
J. Wohlfahrt ◽  
J. Simonsen ◽  
M. Gronbaek ◽  
C. S. Benn
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
The Impact

Emergency Health Surveillance After Severe Flooding in Louisiana, 1995

2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 138-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia L. Ogden ◽  
Lynn I. Gibbs-Scharf ◽  
Melvin A. Kohn ◽  
Josephine Malilay
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Flash Flooding ◽  
Preparedness Plan ◽  
Disaster Area ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Service Disruption ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Severe Flooding

AbstractIntroduction:In disaster situations, timely surveillance systems that provide illness, injury, and mortality information to public health officials and hospitals are essential for planning and evaluating interventions.Objectives:To describe flood surveillance methodology, the impact of the event on hospitals, and the number of daily patient visits due to selected illnesses and injuries before, during, and after severe flooding in southeastern Louisiana in May 1995.Methods:Survey of disaster-area hospitals regarding flood impact. Emergency department surveillance of injuries and illnesses for the week before, the two days during, and the week after the flood.Results:There occurred an increase in the number of persons who drowned or were injured that presented to the moderately affected hospitals during the storm, but there was no increase in visits for gastroenteritis to any group of hospitals. Services were disrupted in more than half of hospitals. The severely affected hospitals had the least variation in the average number of daily visits. None of the drownings were reported by those hospitals that reported severe service disruption.Conclusions:Data should be collected from all hospitals in or near disaster areas, even if they were not directly affected by the disaster. Public education about the danger of drowning during flash flooding must be improved. The Louisiana experience emphasizes the need for a disaster-preparedness plan for rapid surveillance of illnesses and injuries.

scholarly journals Polusi Udara Kendaraan Bermotor Tidak Berpengaruh Terhadap Penyakit ISPA

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 697
Author(s):  
Sri Neneng Sundari
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Community Health Centers ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Exhaust Emission ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Vehicle Exhaust ◽  
The Impact

Abstract: Motor Vehicle Pollution Doesn't Affect Against ISPA Disease. Air pollution is a problem that often occurs in the big cities, one of which is in the city of Bandung. Air pollution can cause various diseases from the most important ones namely respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, and to other diseases that attack certain organs. Based on the results of the study, air pollution from the transportation sector reached 60 percents, therefore this study will highlight the impact of motor vehicle air pollution on human’s health in Bandung, especially Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), because the disease is the 2nd largest of the 20 biggest types of diseases in Community Health Centers / Puskesmas in Bandung. From several air pollutant parameters resulting from vehicle exhaust emissions, SO2 compounds were studied, because SO2 can cause irritation to the respiratory tract. This research using descriptive method, it can be concluded that air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust emission gas doesn’t directly affect the occurrence of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in Bandung. The disease can occur due to other factors not examined in this paper, due to indoor air pollution, cigarette smoke pollution, industrial pollution or the continued use of synthetic chemicals.

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the health-seeking behaviour of an Asian population with acute respiratory infections in a densely populated community

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwee Mian Jane Tan ◽  
Mui Suan Tan ◽  
Zi Ying Chang ◽  
Kee Tung Tan ◽  
Guan Liang Adrian Ee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Circuit Breaker ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Asian Population ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of various non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) as the Singapore government escalated containment efforts from DORSCON Orange to Circuit Breaker. NPI include mandatory mask wearing, hand hygiene, social distancing, and closure of schools and workplaces. Considering the similar mode of transmission of COVID-19 and other pathogens related to acute respiratory infections (ARI), the effects of NPI could possibly lead to decreased ARI attendances in the community. This study aims to determine the year-on-year and weekly changes of ARI attendances across a cluster of polyclinics following the implementation of NPI. Methods The effect of the nation-wide measures on the health-seeking behaviour of the study population was examined over three periods: (1) 9 weeks prior to the start of Circuit Breaker (DORSCON Orange period), (2) 8 weeks during the Circuit Breaker, and (3) 9 weeks after easing of Circuit Breaker. Data on ARI attendances for the corresponding periods in 2019 were also extracted for comparison and to assess the seasonal variations of ARI. The average weekly workday ARI attendances were compared with those of the preceding week using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results ARI attendances dropped steadily throughout the study period and were 50–80% lower than in 2019 since Circuit Breaker. They remained low even after Circuit Breaker ended. Positivity rate for influenza-like illnesses samples in the community was 0.0% from the last week of Circuit Breaker to end of study period. Conclusions NPI and public education measures during DORSCON Orange and Circuit Breaker periods appear to be associated with the health-seeking behaviour of the public. Changing levels of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits and barriers, and widespread visual cues based on the Health Belief Model may account for this change. Understanding the impact of NPI and shifts in the public’s health-seeking behaviour will be relevant and helpful in the planning of future pandemic responses.

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