| Title | Active surveillance for acute respiratory infections among pediatric long-term care facility staff. | ||
| Author | Wilmont, Sibyl; Neu, Natalie; Hill-Ricciuti, Alexandra; Alba, Luis; Prill, Mila M; Whitaker, Brett; Garg, Shikha; Stone, Nimalie D; Lu, Xiaoyan; Kim, Lindsay; Gerber, Susan I; Larson, Elaine; Saiman, Lisa | ||
| Journal | Am J Infect Control | Publication Year/Month | 2020-Dec |
| PMID | 32593809 | PMCID | PMC7316056 |
| Affiliation + expend | 1.Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY. | ||
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.