Digitalizing and Upgrading Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Surveillance in Malta: System Development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In late 2020, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and Epiconcept started implementing a surveillance system for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) across Europe.

Objective

We sought to describe the process of digitizing and upgrading SARI surveillance in Malta, an island country with a centralized health system, during the COVID-19 pandemic from February to November 2021. We described the characteristics of people included in the surveillance system and compared different SARI case definitions, including their advantages and disadvantages. This study also discusses the process, output, and future for SARI and other public health surveillance opportunities.

Methods

Malta has one main public hospital where, on admission, patient dat

SUBMITTER: Cauchi JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9764153 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature