Development of a department of defense regional viral respiratory surveillance program

Mil Med. 2009 Jan;174(1):35-41. doi: 10.7205/milmed-d-00-5108.

Abstract

A continuous viral respiratory surveillance program was established throughout the U.S. Department of Defense beneficiary population living in Europe with a few specimens coming from the Middle East. This program provided influenza rapid antigen test kits, specimen collection kits, detailed instructions, and a questionnaire. Training on specimen collection and testing was provided to health care providers and lab staff. We received 1875 patient specimens (39% active duty, 13% adult beneficiary, and 48% pediatric beneficiary) collected from 36 medical treatment facilities in 10 European and Middle Eastern countries over a 52-week period. Nine hundred and twenty-two questionnaires were received. The greatest activity of viral respiratory infections occurred between weeks 7 to 13. We found the sensitivity of rapid antigen testing compared poorly to both viral culture and PCR; however, the information provided by the rapid testing was utilized locally for guiding patient treatment. Additionally, although 91% of the active duty population received the influenza vaccine, we calculated the vaccine efficacy to be 52%.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle East
  • Military Personnel*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / drug therapy
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / genetics
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Specimen Handling
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Viral Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Viral Vaccines