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Rios-Zertuche D, Carter KH, Harris KP, Thom M, Zúñiga-Brenes MP, Bernal-Lara P, González-Marmol Á, Johanns CK, Hernández B, Palmisano E, Cogen R, Naik P, El Bcheraoui C, Smith DL, Mokdad AH, Iriarte E. Performance of passive case detection for malaria surveillance: results from nine countries in Mesoamerica and the Dominican Republic. Malar J 2021; 20:208. [PMID: 33931091 PMCID: PMC8085801 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03645-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In malaria elimination settings, available metrics for malaria surveillance have been insufficient to measure the performance of passive case detection adequately. An indicator for malaria suspected cases with malaria test (MSCT) is proposed to measure the rate of testing on persons presenting to health facilities who satisfy the definition of a suspected malaria case. This metric does not rely on prior knowledge of fever prevalence, seasonality, or external denominators, and can be used to compare detection rates in suspected cases within and between countries, including across settings with different levels of transmission. Methods To compute the MSCT, an operational definition for suspected malaria cases was established, including clinical and epidemiological criteria. In general, suspected cases included: (1) persons with fever detected in areas with active malaria transmission; (2) persons with fever identified in areas with no active transmission and travel history to, or residence in areas with active transmission (either national or international); and (3) persons presenting with fever, chills and sweating from any area. Data was collected from 9 countries: Belize, Colombia (in areas with active transmission), Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama (September–March 2020). A sample of eligible medical records for 2018 was selected from a sample of health facilities in each country. An algorithm was constructed to assess if a malaria test was ordered or performed for cases that met the suspected case definition. Results A sample of 5873 suspected malaria cases was obtained from 239 health facilities. Except for Nicaragua and Colombia, malaria tests were requested in less than 10% of all cases. More cases were tested in areas with active transmission than areas without cases. Travel history was not systematically recorded in any country. Conclusions A statistically comparable, replicable, and standardized metric was proposed to measure suspected malaria cases with a test (microscopy or rapid diagnostic test) that enables assessing the performance of passive case detection. Cross-country findings have important implications for malaria and infectious disease surveillance, which should be promptly addressed as countries progress towards malaria elimination. Local and easy-to-implement tools could be implemented to assess and improve passive case detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Rios-Zertuche
- Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative, Inter-American Development Bank, DC, Washington, USA.
| | - Keith H Carter
- Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative, Inter-American Development Bank, DC, Washington, USA
| | - Katie Panhorst Harris
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Max Thom
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Pedro Bernal-Lara
- Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative, Inter-American Development Bank, DC, Washington, USA
| | - Álvaro González-Marmol
- Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative, Inter-American Development Bank, Panama City, Panama
| | - Casey K Johanns
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bernardo Hernández
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Erin Palmisano
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rebecca Cogen
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paulami Naik
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - David L Smith
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ali H Mokdad
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Emma Iriarte
- Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative, Inter-American Development Bank, DC, Washington, USA
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Stich A, Oster N, Abdel-Aziz IZ, Stieglbauer G, Coulibaly B, Wickert H, McLean J, Kouyaté BA, Becher H, Lanzer M. Malaria in a holoendemic area of Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study. Parasitol Res 2006; 98:596-9. [PMID: 16416123 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-005-0104-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2005] [Accepted: 11/30/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A malaria survey of the entire population of a village in Western Burkina Faso (n=1,561) was conducted to assess malaria endemicity. The study population was examined for symptoms characteristic of malaria including fever, anaemia, splenomegaly and parasites present in thick blood films. In the overall study population, the prevalence of Plasmodium spp. infection by microscopic examination of thick blood films was 79.0% (1,233/1,561). In a subcohort with 201 individuals, PCR techniques found a prevalence rate for all Plasmodium spp. of 92.0% (185/201), while microscopy found one of 80.6% (162/201). A combination of both methods gives a rate of 95.5% (192/201). Though univariate logistic analyses of elevated body temperature, anaemia, splenomegaly and age showed them all to be predictors of or risk factors for an infection, only elevated body temperature and age were predictors in multivariate logistic analysis. However, the symptom of splenomegaly did show a highly significant association with infection by multiple species of Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- August Stich
- Hygiene Institut, Abteilung Parasitologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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Bisoffi Z, Matteelli A, Aquilini D, Guaraldi G, Magnani G, Orlando G, Gaiera G, Jelinek T, Behrens RH. Malaria clusters among illegal Chinese immigrants to Europe through Africa. Emerg Infect Dis 2003; 9:1177-8. [PMID: 14519261 PMCID: PMC3016778 DOI: 10.3201/eid0909.030353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Between November 2002 and March 2003, 17 cases of malaria (1 fatal) were observed in illegal Chinese immigrants who traveled to Italy through Africa. A further cluster of 12 was reported in August, 2002. Several immigrants traveled by air, making the risk of introducing sudden acute respiratory syndrome a possibility should such illegal immigrations continue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeno Bisoffi
- Centro per le Malattie Tropicali, Ospedale S. Cuore, Negrar, Verona, Italy.
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