/chicago_sentinel_surveillance

Tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2 transmission with a novel outpatient sentinel surveillance system in Chicago, USA.

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Tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2 transmission with a novel outpatient sentinel surveillance system in Chicago, USA

DOI

This is the repository associated with the paper "Tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2 transmission with a novel outpatient sentinel surveillance system in Chicago, USA" Nature Communications (2022).

We investigated whether sentinel surveillance of recently symptomatic individuals receiving an outpatient diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 infection could accurately assess the instantaneous reproductive number R(t) and provide early warning of changes in transmission.

Timing of indicators relative to infection Figure 1. Timing of indicators relative to infection.

  • Reliable indicators of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and infection prevalence are necessary for timely intervention
  • Case-based indicators (e.g. incident cases in the general population) are subject to bias due to differences in access to and demand for testing1,3
  • Hospital-based indicators (e.g. emergency department visits, hospitalizations) lag infection by several weeks1,2,4,5
  • Symptom onset occurs relatively soon after infection and symptomatic individuals are far more likely to receive a diagnostic test1,2,3

References

  1. Evaluating Data Types: A Guide for Decision Makers using Data to Understand the Extent and Spread of COVID-19. 2020, The National Academies Press. 15.
  2. Lauer, S.A., et al., Annals of internal medicine, 2020. 172(9): p. 577-582.
  3. Brauner, J.M., et al., Science, 2021. 371(6531): p. eabd9338
  4. Faes, C., et al., International journal of environmental research and public health, 2020. 17(20): p. 7560
  5. Hawryluk, I., et al Journal of the Royal Society Interface 17.172 (2020): 20200596.