Internet queries and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus surveillance.

ABSTRACT: The Internet is a common source of medical information and has created novel surveillance opportunities. We assessed the potential for Internet-based surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and examined the extent to which it reflects trends in hospitalizations and news coverage. Google queries were a useful predictor of hospitalizations for methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections.

SUBMITTER: Dukic VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3358097 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature