Timeliness of surveillance during outbreak of Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection, Germany, 2011

Abstract

In the context of a large outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 in Germany, we quantified the timeliness of the German surveillance system for hemolytic uremic syndrome and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli notifiable diseases during 2003-2011. Although reporting occurred faster than required by law, potential for improvement exists at all levels of the information chain.

Figure

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cases by date of symptom onset (A), date of diagnosis (B), date of notification (C) (i.e., the date that the local health department was notified of the case), and date of reporting (D) (i.e., the date that the Robert Koch Institute received the report of the case from the local health department) during outbreak of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli infection and HUS, May–June 2011, Germany. Vertical lines indicate May 19, when the Robert Koch Institute received reports about a cluster of HUS cases in children. Dark gray bars represent outbreak-related cases; white bars represent cases not related to the outbreak. Only cases with available information are represented.