scholarly journals A systematic review on mobile health applications for foodborne disease outbreak management

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Genevie Ntshoe ◽  
Andronica Moipone Shonhiwa ◽  
Nevashan Govender ◽  
Nicola Page
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Outbreak Management

Abstract Background Foodborne disease outbreaks are common and notifiable in South Africa; however, they are rarely reported and poorly investigated. Surveillance data from the notification system is suboptimal and limited, and does not provide adequate information to guide public health action and inform policy. We performed a systematic review of published literature to identify mobile application-based outbreak response systems for managing foodborne disease outbreaks and to determine the elements that the system requires to generate foodborne disease data needed for public action. Methods Studies were identified through literature searches using online databases on PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, Greenfile, Library, Information Science & Technology. Search was limited to studies published in English during the period January 1990 to November 2020. Search strategy included various terms in varying combinations with Boolean phrases “OR” and “AND”. Data were collected following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement. A standardised data collection tool was used to extract and summarise information from identified studies. We assessed qualities of mobile applications by looking at the operating system, system type, basic features and functionalities they offer for foodborne disease outbreak management. Results Five hundred and twenty-eight (528) publications were identified, of which 48 were duplicates. Of the remaining 480 studies, 2.9% (14/480) were assessed for eligibility. Only one of the 14 studies met the inclusion criteria and reported on one mobile health application named MyMAFI (My Mobile Apps for Field Investigation). There was lack of detailed information on the application characteristics. However, based on minimal information available, MyMAFI demonstrated the ability to generate line lists, reports and offered functionalities for outbreak verification and epidemiological investigation. Availability of other key components such as environmental and laboratory investigations were unknown. Conclusions There is limited use of mobile applications on management of foodborne disease outbreaks. Efforts should be made to set up systems and develop applications that can improve data collection and quality of foodborne disease outbreak investigations.

scholarly journals Incubation periods of enteric illnesses in foodborne outbreaks, United States, 1998–2013

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Chai ◽  
W. Gu ◽  
K. A. O'Connor ◽  
L. C. Richardson ◽  
R. V. Tauxe
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Incubation Period ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Outbreak Investigation ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Case Definitions ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
Incubation Periods ◽  
Foodborne Outbreaks

Abstract Early in a foodborne disease outbreak investigation, illness incubation periods can help focus case interviews, case definitions, clinical and environmental evaluations and predict an aetiology. Data describing incubation periods are limited. We examined foodborne disease outbreaks from laboratory-confirmed, single aetiology, enteric bacterial and viral pathogens reported to United States foodborne disease outbreak surveillance from 1998–2013. We grouped pathogens by clinical presentation and analysed the reported median incubation period among all illnesses from the implicated pathogen for each outbreak as the outbreak incubation period. Outbreaks from preformed bacterial toxins (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens) had the shortest outbreak incubation periods (4–10 h medians), distinct from that of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (17 h median). Norovirus, salmonella and shigella had longer but similar outbreak incubation periods (32–45 h medians); campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli had the longest among bacteria (62–87 h medians); hepatitis A had the longest overall (672 h median). Our results can help guide diagnostic and investigative strategies early in an outbreak investigation to suggest or rule out specific etiologies or, when the pathogen is known, the likely timeframe for exposure. They also point to possible differences in pathogenesis among pathogens causing broadly similar syndromes.

scholarly journals Applying probability-weighted incubation period distributions to traditional wind rose methodology to improve public health investigations of Legionnaires' disease outbreaks

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bays ◽  
E. Bennett ◽  
T. Finnie
Keyword(s):  
Incubation Period ◽  
Probability Distributions ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Relative Volume ◽  
Wind Rose ◽  
Outbreak Management ◽  
Legionnaires Disease ◽  
Potential Improvement ◽  
And Control

Abstract In the event of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak, rapid location and control of the source of bacteria are crucial for outbreak management and regulation. In this paper, we describe an enhancement of the traditional wind rose for epidemiological use; shifting the focus of measurement from relative frequency of the winds speeds and directions to the relative volume of air carried, whilst also incorporating probability distributions of disease incubation periods to refine identification of the important wind directions during a cases window of exposure, i.e. from which direction contaminated aerosols most likely originated. The probability-weighted wind rose offers a potential improvement over the traditional wind rose by weighting the importance of wind measurements through incorporation of probability of exposure given an individual's time of symptom onset (obtained through knowledge of the incubation period), and by instead focusing on the volume of carrying air which offers better insight into the most probable direction of the source. This then provides a probabilistic distribution of which direction the wind was blowing around the time of infection. We discuss how the probability-weighted wind rose can be implemented during a Legionnaires' disease outbreak, and how outbreak control teams might use it as supportive evidence to identify the most likely direction of the contaminated source from the presumed site of exposure. In addition, this paper discusses how minor adjustments can be made to the method allowing the probability-weighted wind rose to be applied to other non-communicable airborne diseases, providing the disease's probability distribution for the incubation period distribution is well known.

scholarly journals Using Mobile Applications to Increase Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 8238
Author(s):  
Laura Pradal-Cano ◽  
Carolina Lozano-Ruiz ◽  
José Juan Pereyra-Rodríguez ◽  
Francesc Saigí-Rubió ◽  
Anna Bach-Faig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Dietary Behaviour ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Full Text Review ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Bibliographic Search ◽  
Health Applications

Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity—major risk factors for the main non-communicable diseases—can be addressed by mobile health applications. Using an evidence-based systematic review design, we analysed studies on mobile applications to foster physical activity to determine whether they met the objective of increasing adults’ physical activity. A bibliographic search was conducted in October 2020 using PubMed, Cochrane Library Plus, Biomed Central, Psychology Database, and SpringerLink, retrieving 191 articles. After titles and abstracts were reviewed, 149 articles were excluded, leaving 42 articles for a full-text review, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. Despite differences in study duration, design, and variables, 13 of the 14 studies reported that applications were effective in increasing physical activity and healthy habits as dietary behaviour. However, further longer-term studies with larger samples are needed to confirm the effectiveness of mobile health applications in increasing physical activity.

scholarly journals Produce-associated foodborne disease outbreaks, USA, 1998–2013

2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (11) ◽  
pp. 1397-1406 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Bennett ◽  
S. V. Sodha ◽  
T. L. Ayers ◽  
M. F. Lynch ◽  
L. H. Gould ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Row Crops ◽  
The Us ◽  
Foodborne Outbreaks

AbstractThe US Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) gives food safety regulators increased authority to require implementation of safety measures to reduce the contamination of produce. To evaluate the future impact of FSMA on food safety, a better understanding is needed regarding outbreaks attributed to the consumption of raw produce. Data reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System during 1998–2013 were analysed. During 1998–2013, there were 972 raw produce outbreaks reported resulting in 34 674 outbreak-associated illnesses, 2315 hospitalisations, and 72 deaths. Overall, the total number of foodborne outbreaks reported decreased by 38% during the study period and the number of raw produce outbreaks decreased 19% during the same period; however, the percentage of outbreaks attributed to raw produce among outbreaks with a food reported increased from 8% during 1998–2001 to 16% during 2010–2013. Raw produce outbreaks were most commonly attributed to vegetable row crops (38% of outbreaks), fruits (35%) and seeded vegetables (11%). The most common aetiologic agents identified were norovirus (54% of outbreaks), Salmonella enterica (21%) and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (10%). Food-handling errors were reported in 39% of outbreaks. The proportion of all foodborne outbreaks attributable to raw produce has been increasing. Evaluation of safety measures to address the contamination on farms, during processing and food preparation, should take into account the trends occurring before FSMA implementation.

scholarly journals Does the use of mobile applications or mobile health technology improve diet quality in adults? A protocol for a systematic literature review

2022 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Alan Scarry ◽  
Jennifer Rice ◽  
Eibhlís M O' Connor ◽  
Audrey C Tierney
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Background: Mobile technology has grown at an exceptional rate and is now a huge part of our daily living. This use of mobile technology has opened up new possibilities in treating health, with almost half of the current applications linked to the mHealth sector. In particular, dietary measurement, applications have become very accessible and very popular. As dietary issues have become more prevalent, more mobile and mHealth applications offer various solutions. This systematic review aims to address if the use of such mobile applications or mobile health technology can improve diet quality in adults that interact with them. Methods: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised controlled trials (NRCTs) will be conducted. The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (Cinahl), The American Psychological Association’s (APA Psycinfo), and PubMed will be searched from January 2010 to November 2021. Primary outcomes will include identifying if adults who use mobile applications and health technology improve their diet quality compared to adults who do not use this technology. Study selection will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The methodological appraisal of the studies will be assessed independently by two different reviewers (AS and JR) using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool for RCTs and the Risk-of Bias In Non-Randomised Studies Tool for NRCTs. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not essential for this systematic review. Only data from studies that are publically available from previously published studies will be used. The findings of this systematic review will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences. PROSPERO registration: CRD42021240224 (01/03/2021).

scholarly journals Traits and risk factors of post-disaster infectious disease outbreaks: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina E. C. Charnley ◽  
Ilan Kelman ◽  
Katy A. M. Gaythorpe ◽  
Kris A. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Post Disaster ◽  
Water Borne

AbstractInfectious disease outbreaks are increasingly recognised as events that exacerbate impacts or prolong recovery following disasters. Yet, our understanding of the frequency, geography, characteristics and risk factors of post-disaster disease outbreaks globally is lacking. This limits the extent to which disease outbreak risks can be prepared for, monitored and responded to following disasters. Here, we conducted a global systematic review of post-disaster outbreaks and found that outbreaks linked to conflicts and hydrological events were most frequently reported, and most often caused by bacterial and water-borne agents. Lack of adequate WASH facilities and poor housing were commonly reported risk factors. Displacement, through infrastructure damage, can lead to risk cascades for disease outbreaks; however, displacement can also be an opportunity to remove people from danger and ultimately protect health. The results shed new light on post-disaster disease outbreaks and their risks. Understanding these risk factors and cascades, could help improve future region-specific disaster risk reduction.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of restaurant-associated foodborne disease outbreaks, United States, 1998–2013

2016 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 523-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. ANGELO ◽  
A. L. NISLER ◽  
A. J. HALL ◽  
L. G. BROWN ◽  
L. H. GOULD
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Foodborne Illness ◽  
Annual Number ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Food Workers

SUMMARYAlthough contamination of food can occur at any point from farm to table, restaurant food workers are a common source of foodborne illness. We describe the characteristics of restaurant-associated foodborne disease outbreaks and explore the role of food workers by analysing outbreaks associated with restaurants from 1998 to 2013 reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System. We identified 9788 restaurant-associated outbreaks. The median annual number of outbreaks was 620 (interquartile range 618–629). In 3072 outbreaks with a single confirmed aetiology reported, norovirus caused the largest number of outbreaks (1425, 46%). Of outbreaks with a single food reported and a confirmed aetiology, fish (254 outbreaks, 34%) was most commonly implicated, and these outbreaks were commonly caused by scombroid toxin (219 outbreaks, 86% of fish outbreaks). Most outbreaks (79%) occurred at sit-down establishments. The most commonly reported contributing factors were those related to food handling and preparation practices in the restaurant (2955 outbreaks, 61%). Food workers contributed to 2415 (25%) outbreaks. Knowledge of the foods, aetiologies, and contributing factors that result in foodborne disease restaurant outbreaks can help guide efforts to prevent foodborne illness.

Complaints of Foodborne Illness in San Francisco, California, 1998

2001 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 1261-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL C. SAMUEL ◽  
DIANE PORTNOY ◽  
ROB V. TAUXE ◽  
FRED J. ANGULO ◽  
DUC J. VUGIA
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Foodborne Illness ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Health Authorities

Foodborne diseases are an important public problem affecting millions of Americans each year and resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. Many foodborne infections occur in outbreak settings. Outbreaks are often detected by complaints from the public to health authorities. This report reviews complaints received by the San Francisco Department of Public Health involving suspected foodborne illness in 1998. Although such foodborne complaints are commonly received by health officials, we provide the first review of population-based data describing such complaints. We use a broad definition of a foodborne disease outbreak. We judged a complaint to be a “likely foodborne disease outbreak” if it involved more than one person and more than one family; no other common meals were shared recently by ill persons; diarrhea, vomiting, or both was reported; and the incubation period was more than one hour. In 1998, 326 complaints of foodborne illness, involving a total of 599 ill people, were received by the Communicable Disease Control Unit in San Francisco. The complaints involved from 1 to 36 ill persons, with 61% involving one ill person and 25% involving two ill persons. Of the 126 reports involving illness in more than one person, 77 (61%) were judged to be likely foodborne disease outbreaks. Three of these 77 outbreaks had been investigated prior to our review. This project confirms that more foodborne disease outbreaks occur than are reported to state and national outbreak surveillance systems. Our review of the San Francisco system highlights opportunities for gleaning valuable information from the foodborne disease complaint systems in place in most jurisdictions.

scholarly journals Food recalls associated with foodborne disease outbreaks, United States, 2006–2016

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Qihua Qiu ◽  
Daniel Dewey-Mattia ◽  
Sanjana Subramhanya ◽  
Zhaohui Cui ◽  
Patricia M. Griffin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Food Recalls

scholarly journals Patients’ adherence to smartphone apps in the management of bipolar disorder: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Camille Patoz ◽  
Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei ◽  
Bruno Pereira ◽  
Olivier Blanc ◽  
Ingrid de Chazeron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Bipolar Patients ◽  
Digital Or

Abstract Background Despite an increasing number of available mental health apps in the bipolar disorder field, these tools remain scarcely implemented in everyday practice and are quickly discontinued by patients after downloading. The aim of this study is to explore adherence characteristics of bipolar disorder patients to dedicated smartphone interventions in research studies. Methods A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Three databases (EMBASE, PsychInfo and MEDLINE) were searched using the following keywords: "bipolar disorder" or "mood disorder" or “bipolar” combined with “digital” or “mobile” or “phone” or “smartphone” or “mHealth” or “ehealth” or "mobile health" or “app” or “mobile-health”. Results Thirteen articles remained in the review after exclusion criteria were applied. Of the 118 eligible studies, 39 did not provide adherence characteristics. Among the selected papers, study length, sample size and definition of measures of adherence were strongly heterogeneous. Activity rates ranged from 58 to 91.6%. Conclusion The adherence of bipolar patients to apps is understudied. Standardised measures of adherence should be defined and systematically evaluated in future studies dedicated to these tools.

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