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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Gita G. Mirchandani, MPH, PhD¹, Kia Tolson, MPH¹, Dale Rohn, MPH¹, Marsha Davenport, MD, MPH¹, David Blythe, MD, MPH¹, and Janet Blair, PhD, MPH². (1) Epidemiology and Disease Control Programs, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 201 W. Preston Street, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-767-6031, GMirchandani@dhmh.state.md.us, (2) CDC Office of Workforce and Career Development, 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS E-92, Atlanta, GA 30333

Background: Newly emergent respiratory infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza A, can be severe among humans, resulting in pneumonia and hospitalizations. Because health-care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk from patient contact, early detection of pneumonia cases among HCWs can serve as sentinel events for the emergence of new pathogens. We evaluated two attributes of Maryland's surveillance for pneumonia among HCWs, system timeliness and the completeness of pathogen reporting. Methods: We analyzed surveillance data for October 2003–October 2005. Cases were defined as pneumonia confirmed by chest radiograph or computed tomography in a hospitalized HCW. We assessed completeness of pathogen reporting by reviewing case-report forms, and timeliness by computing the mean delay in reporting time. Results: During the 2 years the system has been operating, 74 HCWs meeting the case definition were reported; complete information was available for 58 of these. Of these 58 cases, 81% were female. Median age was 47 years (range: 19–78). Fifty percent were nurses. No outbreaks or emerging pathogens were detected. Laboratory confirmation of a causative organism for pneumonia was available in approximately 26% of cases. Mean delay between date of admission to a hospital and reporting of a case to the local health department was 4.2 days (median: 2 days; range: 0–65 days). Conclusions: Surveillance for pneumonia among HCWs can provide timely and useful information; moreover, a shorter delay between hospitalization and reporting might enhance early detection of clusters. Improved pathogen identification will allow for more targeted health interventions.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize the importance of health care workers as a sentinal population in the identification of newly emergent diseases

Keywords: Emerging Diseases, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered