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. 2018 Sep;12(5):632-642.
doi: 10.1111/irv.12571. Epub 2018 Jun 10.

Expanding severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance beyond influenza: The process and data from 1 year of implementation in Vietnam

Karen A Alroy  1 , Trang Thuy Do  2 , Phu Dac Tran  3 , Tan Quang Dang  3 , Long Ngoc Vu  3 , Nga Thi Hang Le  3 , Anh Duc Dang  4 , Nghia Duy Ngu  4 , Tu Huy Ngo  4 , Phuong Vu Mai Hoang  4 , Lan Trong Phan  5 , Thuong Vu Nguyen  5 , Long Thanh Nguyen  5 , Thinh Viet Nguyen  5 , Mai Quang Vien  6 , Huy Xuan Le  6 , Anh The Dao  6 , Trieu Bao Nguyen  6 , Duoc Tho Pham  7 , Van Thi Tuyet Nguyen  7 , Thanh Ngoc Pham  7 , Binh Hai Phan  7 , Brett Whitaker  1 , Thuy Thi Thu Do  2 , Phuong Anh Dao  2 , S Arunmozhi Balajee  1 , Anthony W Mounts  2   8
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Expanding severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance beyond influenza: The process and data from 1 year of implementation in Vietnam

Karen A Alroy et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Background: In 2016, as a component of the Global Health Security Agenda, the Vietnam Ministry of Health expanded its existing influenza sentinel surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) to include testing for 7 additional viral respiratory pathogens. This article describes the steps taken to implement expanded SARI surveillance in Vietnam and reports data from 1 year of expanded surveillance.

Methods: The process of expanding the suite of pathogens for routine testing by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) included laboratory trainings, procurement/distribution of reagents, and strengthening and aligning SARI surveillance epidemiology practices at sentinel sites and regional institutes (RI).

Results: Surveillance data showed that of 4003 specimens tested by the RI laboratories, 20.2% (n = 810) were positive for influenza virus. Of the 3193 influenza-negative specimens, 41.8% (n = 1337) were positive for at least 1 non-influenza respiratory virus, of which 16.2% (n = 518), 13.4% (n = 428), and 9.6% (n = 308) tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and adenovirus, respectively.

Conclusions: The Government of Vietnam has demonstrated that expanding respiratory viral surveillance by strengthening and building upon an influenza platform is feasible, efficient, and practical.

Keywords: Vietnam; adenovirus; global health security; influenza virus; respiratory syncytial virus; rhinovirus; severe acute respiratory infection.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A, List of the SARI sentinel sites selected at the harmonization workshop. B, Map illustrating SARI sentinel sites’ geographic distribution across Vietnam and the Regional Institute that cooperates with each sentinel site
Figure 2
Figure 2
Testing algorithm for expanded SARI surveillance in Vietnam. *If samples are positive with subtypes of H5 and H7N9, the labs at TIHE and PI‐Nha Trang will send samples to PI‐ HCMC and NIHE, respectively, for confirmation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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