TY - JOUR
T1 - Interdependence of diagnostics and epidemiology, a European perspective
T2 - Position paper on the need for an intrinsic cooperation and data sharing
AU - van Genne, Mart K.
AU - Poelman, Randy
AU - Cassidy, Hayley
AU - Meessen, Nico E. L.
AU - Niesters, Hubert G. M.
N1 - Funding Information:
HC has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program 493, under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement 713660 (MSCA-COFUND-201-DP 494 “Pronkjewail”).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Authors
PY - 2019/9
Y1 - 2019/9
N2 - For some well-known pathogens like influenza or RSV, diagnostic and epidemiological data is available and continuously complement each other. For most other pathogens however, data is not always available or severely delayed. Furthermore, clinical data is needed to assess the burden of disease, which will enhance awareness and help to gain knowledge on emerging pathogens. In this position paper, we discuss the interdependence of diagnostics and epidemiology from a European perspective. In 2004, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was founded to coordinate European wide surveillance and control. At present however, the ECDC still relies on university hospitals, public health institutions and other diagnostic institutions. Close collaboration between all stakeholders across Europe is therefore complex, but necessary to optimize the system for the individual patient. From the diagnostic side, data on detected pathogens should be shared with relevant health institutions in real-time. From the public health side, collected information should be made accessible for diagnostic and clinical institutions in real-time. Subsequently, this information needs to be disseminated across relevant medical disciplines to reach its full potential.
AB - For some well-known pathogens like influenza or RSV, diagnostic and epidemiological data is available and continuously complement each other. For most other pathogens however, data is not always available or severely delayed. Furthermore, clinical data is needed to assess the burden of disease, which will enhance awareness and help to gain knowledge on emerging pathogens. In this position paper, we discuss the interdependence of diagnostics and epidemiology from a European perspective. In 2004, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was founded to coordinate European wide surveillance and control. At present however, the ECDC still relies on university hospitals, public health institutions and other diagnostic institutions. Close collaboration between all stakeholders across Europe is therefore complex, but necessary to optimize the system for the individual patient. From the diagnostic side, data on detected pathogens should be shared with relevant health institutions in real-time. From the public health side, collected information should be made accessible for diagnostic and clinical institutions in real-time. Subsequently, this information needs to be disseminated across relevant medical disciplines to reach its full potential.
KW - Diagnostic stewardship
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Surveillance
U2 - 10.1016/j.jcv.2019.07.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jcv.2019.07.002
M3 - Review article
C2 - 31301517
SN - 1386-6532
VL - 118
SP - 6
EP - 8
JO - Journal of Clinical Virology
JF - Journal of Clinical Virology
ER -