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Hashan MR, Chapman G, Walker J, Jayne Davidson S, Auriac J, Smoll N, Kirk M, Akbar D, Booy R, Khandaker G. Protocol on establishing a prospective enhanced surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases in residential aged care facilities in Central Queensland, Australia: an observational study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060407. [PMID: 36691252 PMCID: PMC9171214 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Infectious diseases are a major cause of mortality and morbidity among the highly vulnerable occupants of residential aged care facilities (RACFs). The burden of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) among RACFs residents is mostly unknown and there is a lack of quality data from population-based prospective VPD surveillance in RACFs. The increasing burden of emerging and existing VPDs (eg, COVID-19, influenza, pneumococcal, pertussis and varicella-zoster) necessitates the establishment of an active enhanced surveillance system to provide real-time evidence to devise strategies to reduce the burden of VPDs in RACFs. METHOD AND ANALYSIS This study proposes a prospective active enhanced surveillance that will be implemented in RACFs across the Central Queensland (CQ) region. The study aims to measure the burden, identify aetiologies, risk factors, predictors of severe outcomes (eg, hospitalisations, mortality) and impact of the existing National Immunization Program (NIP) funded vaccines in preventing VPDs in this vulnerable population. CQ Public Health Unit (CQPHU) will implement the active surveillance by collecting demographic, clinical, pathological, diagnostic, therapeutic and clinical outcome data from the RACFs based on predefined selection criteria and case report forms as per routine public health practices. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate regression analysis will be conducted to identify the predictors of morbidity and clinical outcomes following infection. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has been approved by the CQHHS Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (reference number HREC/2021/QCQ/74305). This study involves data that is routinely collected as part of the surveillance of notifiable conditions under the Public Health Act 2005. The CQHHS HREC approved a request to waive consent requirements of study participants as researchers will be provided non-identifiable data. The findings from the study will be actively disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, social and print media, federal, state, and local authorities to reflect on the results that may facilitate revision of policy and highlight the stakeholders, funding bodies both locally and internationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Rashidul Hashan
- School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton North, Queensland, Australia
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gwenda Chapman
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jacina Walker
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sonya Jayne Davidson
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jill Auriac
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicolas Smoll
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Kirk
- Rockhampton Business Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Delwar Akbar
- School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton North, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robert Booy
- National Centre for Immunisation Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gulam Khandaker
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
- Research Division, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton North, Queensland, Australia
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Sullivan SG. Preparing for out-of-season influenza epidemics when international travel resumes. Med J Aust 2021; 216:25-26. [PMID: 34773924 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.51340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheena G Sullivan
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (Royal Melbourne Hospital) at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC
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