scholarly journals Lessons Learned from and Prospects of Using Mobile Laboratories for Epidemiological Surveillance over Plague, Other Particularly Dangerous, Natural-Focal, Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

2021 ◽  
pp. 26-33
Author(s):  
I. N. Sharova ◽  
T. Yu. Krasovskaya ◽  
E. V. Kazorina ◽  
A. V. Kazantsev ◽  
M. V. Proskuryakova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Mobile Laboratory ◽  
Natural Focus ◽  
Bacteriological Analysis ◽  
Cross Border

The review presents the materials on the use of mobile laboratories, developed in the Russian Federation, in the framework of four main areas: monitoring of territories to identify the circulation of pathogens of natural-focal infectious diseases; monitoring of territories during the exacerbation of the epizootic situation; participation in the elimination of outbreaks of infectious diseases; monitoring of territories to control and predict the epidemiological and epizootiologic situation in preparation for mass events. The tactical and technical characteristics and the procedure for organizing the operation of the mobile laboratory for monitoring and diagnostics mounted on the platform of the KamAZ chassis are considered. A distinctive feature of the laboratory from the existing Russian and foreign counterparts is the availability of the necessary conditions for conducting research using bacteriological analysis, rapid and accelerated diagnostic methods, and performing a full cycle of works – from the preparatory stage to the destruction of infected material. Hightech equipment allows the realization of two research schemes: the first – bacteriological analysis alongside the PCR, which ensures high reliability of the results; the second – conducting the PCR at the first stage, and when identifying genetic markers of the pathogen – performing bacteriological analysis of positive samples in order to isolate the culture of the pathogen and identify it subsequently. The second scheme will reduce the volume of bacteriological studies; make changes in the tactics of epizootiological survey. Tests of the mobile laboratory have demonstrated the effectiveness of its use in the epizootiological examination of natural plague foci, including cross-border ones. Owing to the use of a mobile laboratory in the Gorno-Altaisk high-mountain natural focus of plague, a new epizootic site was identified, located in a remote area, used by the population as a summer pasture for grazing domestic animals. The use of mobile laboratories will strengthen the laboratory base of institutions that monitor particularly dangerous, natural-focal and other dangerous infectious diseases; will help to bring the advanced diagnostic technologies directly to the natural focus, reduce the risk of epidemic complications due to plague and other particularly dangerous infections in cross-border natural foci.

scholarly journals Qualitative and Quantitative Predictions of Infectious Diseases in Shirak Marz

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Armine Andryan
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Stability Index ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Epidemic Threshold ◽  
Partial Control ◽  
Average Characteristic ◽  
Reliability Indicators ◽  
The Stability

ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to identify the periodicity of seven zooanthroponoses in humans, and set epidemic thresholds for future occurrences.IntroductionThe frequency of disease outbreaks varies as a result of complex biological processes. Analysis of these frequencies can reveal patterns that can serve as a basis for predictions.MethodsA 40 year regression analysis of the following infectious diseases was performed using Arc-GIS10.1—anthrax, brucellosis, erysipeloid, leptospirosis, plague, tularemia and yersiniosis.ResultsThe analyses covered many years and revealed the dynamics of epidemics for infections. Yearly periodicities of (3.1 + 2.8) - (3.8 + 2.2) - 5 - 4.6 - 2.2 - 5.1 - 2.1 - 2.6 were determined for theoretically calculated zooanthroponoses. These coincide with the recorded activity of (6 - 6 - 5 - 5 - 2 - 5 - 3 - 2) that correspond to (1977-1983-1989-1994-1999-2001-2006-2009-2011 (2017-2023-2028). These years had more cases of disease than other years. The predicted years (2017, 2023, 2028) are those of potential risk, when 0.7-0.9% of the total disease burden will consist of epidemiologically associated cases.Disease severity was correlated with natural factors including air temperature, humidity, number of annual heat days, geographical factors, type of landscape, number of carriers, and the contact intensity between disease carrier and transmitter. Partial control indicators (PCIs) were determined to characterize the epidemic situation. These are determined from the perennial average characteristic of the given area from which the mean square deviation is removed. The detection indicator is the normal size of a given disease, with minimal and maximal deviation of the range. It can be compared to the epidemic threshold and helps yield short- and long-term quantitative predictions with high reliability indicators (96.5% p <0.035).ConclusionsA 3-5 year periodicity for zooanthroponoses was identified. Conditions contributing to the occurrence of these epidemics differ by region. In Shirak Marz, the PCIs for the different diseases are: brucellosis-47, anthrax-12, plague-8, tularemia-6, leptospirosis-175, erysipeloid-12, yersiniosis-18. These numbers represent years of positive points as a maximum threshold. The stability index was identified, for instance, for brucellosis S = 1.2, amplitude - 5.2, perennial average - 28.8, orientation month - January, seasonal morbidity ratio - 18-42 cases. Our predictions indicate that 2017 will be a peak year with 95% probability; intensive index: 16.8 (per 100,000 population), seasonal illness cases: 42 ± 3.5 between March and November. The application of numerical thresholds in predictive epidemiological surveillance provide clear triggers that make public health responses more targeted and rational.

scholarly journals Critical Evaluation of Cross-Sectoral Collaborations to Inform the Implementation of the “One Health” Approach in Guadeloupe

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaëlle Gruel ◽  
Mame Boucar Diouf ◽  
Catherine Abadie ◽  
Yolande Chilin-Charles ◽  
Eric Marcel Charles Etter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
One Health ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Local Health ◽  
The One

In Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory located in the Eastern Caribbean, infectious and non-infectious diseases, loss of biodiversity, natural disasters and global change threaten the health and well-being of animals, plants, and people. Implementing the “One Health” (OH) approach is crucial to reduce the archipelago's vulnerability to these health threats. However, OH remains underdeveloped in Guadeloupe, hampering efficient and effective intersectoral and transdisciplinary collaborations for disease surveillance and control. A multidisciplinary research group of volunteer researchers working in Guadeloupe, with collective expertise in infectious diseases, undertook a study to identify key attributes for OH operationalization by reviewing past and current local collaborative health initiatives and analyzing how much they mobilized the OH framework. The research group developed and applied an operational OH framework to assess critically collaborative initiatives addressing local health issues. Based on a literature review, a set of 13 opinion-based key criteria was defined. The criteria and associated scoring were measured through semi-directed interviews guided by a questionnaire to critically evaluate four initiatives in animal, human, plant, and environmental health research and epidemiological surveillance. Gaps, levers, and prospects were identified that will help health communities in Guadeloupe envision how to implement the OH approach to better address local health challenges. The methodology is simple, generic, and pragmatic and relies on existing resources. It can be transposed and adapted to other contexts to improve effectiveness and efficiency of OH initiatives, based on lessons-learned of local past or current multi-interdisciplinary and intersectoral initiatives.

scholarly journals Role of Laboratory Medicine in SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostics. Lessons Learned from a Pandemic

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 915
Author(s):  
Irena Duś-Ilnicka ◽  
Aleksander Szymczak ◽  
Małgorzata Małodobra-Mazur ◽  
Miron Tokarski
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Medical Diagnostic ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Available Information

Since the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, China, diagnostic methods in the field of molecular biology have been developing faster than ever under the vigilant eye of world’s research community. Unfortunately, the medical community was not prepared for testing such large volumes or ranges of biological materials, whether blood samples for antibody immunological testing, or salivary/swab samples for real-time PCR. For this reason, many medical diagnostic laboratories have made the switch to working in the field of molecular biology, and research undertaken to speed up the flow of samples through laboratory. The aim of this narrative review is to evaluate the current literature on laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection available on pubmed.gov, Google Scholar, and according to the writers’ knowledge and experience of the laboratory medicine. It assesses the available information in the field of molecular biology by comparing real-time PCR, LAMP technique, RNA sequencing, and immunological diagnostics, and examines the newest techniques along with their limitations for use in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics.

scholarly journals Pandemic Prevention: Lessons from COVID-19

Encyclopedia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-444
Author(s):  
Mario Coccia
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Health System ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Policy Responses

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which appeared in late 2019, generating a pandemic crisis with high numbers of COVID-19-related infected individuals and deaths in manifold countries worldwide. Lessons learned from COVID-19 can be used to prevent pandemic threats by designing strategies to support different policy responses, not limited to the health system, directed to reduce the risks of the emergence of novel viral agents, the diffusion of infectious diseases and negative impact in society.

Phenomenon of the Internet Immersion: Definition and Measurement

2021 ◽  
pp. 107-125
Author(s):  
L.A. Regush ◽  
◽  
A.V. Orlova ◽  
E.V. Alekseeva ◽  
O.R. Veretina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
Actual State ◽  
Time Range ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Internet Environment

The purpose of the study was to justify the essence of the “Internet immersion” phenomenon and to create a standardized method for its measurement. A comparative analysis of approaches to human behavior on the Internet environment and existing diagnostic methods has revealed a significant variety of categories and definitions used. At the same time, there is no definition that: first, characterizes the degree and quality of user's Internet activity; second, is free from negative and clinical connotations; and, third, describes a wider time range of Internet usage than the actual state of immersion. The authors substantiate the possibility of studying the phenomenon of the Internet immersion through the category of disposition. It consists of the readiness to use technical means and informational resources of the Internet to solve problems in various types of activities and communication. The authors identify traditional components in the structure of the Internet immersion phenomenon. These are, first of all, a cognitive component, represented by digital competence self-assessment; then, an affective component, represented by motivation and emotional and value-based attitude towards the Internet; and a behavioral component, represented by the amount of digital consumption. Based on this definition, it was possible to construct a compact 9-block “Index of the Internet immersion” questionnaire. Its standardization was conducted on the sample of 712 adolescents, aged from 11 to 17. Using the factor analysis, the structure of the questionnaire was identified. The first factor includes questions that relate to the time spent on the Internet and signs of dependence on it. The second factor includes questions that reveal the activity component and emotional attitude to the Internet. The third factor includes questions about experience and self-assessment of digital competence. The advantage of the “Index of the Internet immersion” questionnaire is a fairly high reliability for internal consistency of scales throughout the questionnaire. We also confirmed the sufficient convergent validity of the “Internet environment immersion Index” method with the “Scale of Problematic Internet Usage” by A.A. Gerasimova, A.B. Kholmogorova (adapted version of Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale (GPIUS) by S. Caplan) and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT, K. Young), modified by V. A. Loskutova. This indicates its validity as an independent tool that does not duplicate other tools for semantically similar phenomena measurement. In the conditions of forced self-isolation that have developed in our country, the method of the Internet immersion diagnostics as an adequate and theoretically justified tool will allow us to study changes in the emotional state and behavior of teenagers on the Internet.

scholarly journals Public health response and lessons learned from the 2014 chikungunya epidemic in Grenada

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin S Forde ◽  
Francis Martin ◽  
George Mitchell ◽  
Satesh Bidaisee
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Island State ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Multiple Challenges

In June 2014, the first cases of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) were diagnosed on the island of Carriacou, part of the tri-island state of Grenada. In the three months that followed, CHIKV spread rapidly, with conservative estimates of the population infected of at least 60%. Multiple challenges were encountered in the battle to manage the spread and impact of this high–attack rate virus, including 1) limited indigenous laboratory diagnostic capabilities; 2) an under-resourced health care system; 3) a skeptical general public, hesitant to accept facts about the origin and mode of transmission of the new virus; and 4) resistance to the vector control strategies used. Lessons learned from the outbreak included the need for 1) a robust and reliable epidemiological surveillance system; 2) effective strategies for communicating with the general population; 3) exploration of other methods of mosquito vector control; and 4) a careful review of all health care policies and protocols to ensure that effective, organized responses are triggered when an infectious outbreak occurs.

scholarly journals New Real-Time PCRs to Differentiate Rickettsia spp. and Rickettsia conorii

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (19) ◽  
pp. 4431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Blanda ◽  
Rosalia D’Agostino ◽  
Elisabetta Giudice ◽  
Kety Randazzo ◽  
Francesco La Russa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Rickettsia Conorii ◽  
Rickettsia Species ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Dna Primers

Rickettsia species are an important cause of emerging infectious diseases in people and animals, and rickettsiosis is one of the oldest known vector-borne diseases. Laboratory diagnosis of Rickettsia is complex and time-consuming. This study was aimed at developing two quantitative real-time PCRs targeting ompB and ompA genes for the detection, respectively, of Rickettsia spp. and R. conorii DNA. Primers were designed following an analysis of Rickettsia gene sequences. The assays were optimized using SYBR Green and TaqMan methods and tested for sensitivity and specificity. This study allowed the development of powerful diagnostic methods, able to detect and quantify Rickettsia spp. DNA and differentiate R. conorii species.

scholarly journals SOPROLIFE System: An Accurate Diagnostic Enhancer

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Zeitouny ◽  
Mireille Feghali ◽  
Assaad Nasr ◽  
Philippe Abou-Samra ◽  
Nadine Saleh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Caries Detection ◽  
Occlusal Caries ◽  
Posterior Teeth ◽  
Icdas Ii

Objectives.The aim of this study was to evaluate a light-emitting diode fluorescence tool, the SOPROLIFE light-induced fluorescence evaluator, and compare it to the international caries detection and assessment system-II (ICDAS-II) in the detection of occlusal caries. Methods. A total of 219 permanent posterior teeth in 21 subjects, with age ranging from 15 to 65 years, were examined. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was computed to assess the reliability between the two diagnostic methods.Results.The results showed a high reliability between the two methods (ICC = 0.92; IC = 0.901–0.940;P<0.001). The SOPROLIFE blue fluorescence mode had a high sensitivity (87%) and a high specificity (99%) when compared to ICDAS-II.Conclusion.Compared to the most used visual method in the diagnosis of occlusal caries lesions, the finding from this study suggests that SOPROLIFE can be used as a reproducible and reliable assessment tool. At a cut-off point, categorizing noncarious lesions and visual change in enamel, SOPROLIFE shows a high sensitivity and specificity. We can conclude that financially ICDAS is better than SOPROLIFE. However SOPROLIFE is easier for clinicians since it is a simple evaluation of images. Finally in terms of efficiency SOPROLIFE is not superior to ICDAS but tends to be equivalent with the same advantages.

Creating Patient Safety with Organizational Learning: A Case-Based Learning Intervention at a Public and Private Hospital

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (16) ◽  
pp. 1438-1442
Author(s):  
Amanda Eisenlohr ◽  
Marta L. Render ◽  
Emily S. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Private Hospital ◽  
Program Effectiveness ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Learning Intervention ◽  
Case Based Learning ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Case Based

A critical component of a high reliability organization (HRO) is believed to be a safety culture. Historically, healthcare placed the onus on individuals for perfection in performance of complex work. A six-month, case-based learning intervention at a public and private hospital, Safety Minutes™, attempted to shift the focus from the individual to systems. The intervention is organized in rotating modules of a medical and non-medical incident that exemplify a safety concept, displayed via posters in a staff meeting space, followed by a moderated discussion. Moderators asked how the stories resembled or differed from the nurses' experiences and guided participants away from ingrained “blame” responses in order to look more deeply at systemic and organizational factors. We assessed program effectiveness by ethnographic analysis of written transcripts of the moderated sessions and discuss lessons learned.

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