Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38653507›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2024

Estimating the incidence of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infection in three regions of Queensland, Australia, winter 2022: findings from a novel longitudinal testing-based sentinel surveillance programme.

Fiona May, Shamila Ginige, Elise Firman, Yee Sum Li, Yudish Kumar Soonarane, Nicolas Smoll, Ian Hunter, Brielle Pery, Bonnie Macfarlane, Tracy Bladen and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Fiona MayGold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia fiona.may@health.qld.gov.au.ORCID 0000-0003-1306-0179
Shamila GinigeGold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6513-2114
Elise FirmanGold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7402-1494
Yee Sum LiMetro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
Yudish Kumar SoonaraneMetro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0009-0008-0857-0493
Nicolas SmollCentral Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6923-9701
Ian HunterGold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9919-3652
Brielle PeryGold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0009-0004-2906-2202
Bonnie MacfarlaneMetro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8742-5292
Tracy BladenGold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
Terresa AllenGold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
Trevor GreenMetro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
Jacina WalkerCentral Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8277-6723
Vicki SlinkoGold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
Mark StickleyMetro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1365-3313
Gulam KhandakerCentral Queensland Public Health Unit, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0661-4113
Satyamurthy AnuradhaMetro South Public Health Unit, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1006-7191
Andre WattiauxGold Coast Public Health Unit, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0009-0000-2527-5420

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe 2022 Australian winter was the first time that COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were circulating in the population together, after two winters of physical distancing, quarantine and borders closed to international travellers. We developed a novel surveillance system to estimate the incidence of COVID-19, influenza and RSV in three regions of Queensland, Australia.

designWe implemented a longitudinal testing-based sentinel surveillance programme. Participants were provided with self-collection nasal swabs to be dropped off at a safe location at their workplace each week. Swabs were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. Symptomatic participants attended COVID-19 respiratory clinics to be tested by multiplex PCR for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B and RSV. Rapid antigen test (RAT) results reported by participants were included in the analysis. SETTING AND

participantsBetween 4 April 2022 and 3 October 2022, 578 adults were recruited via their workplace. Due to rolling recruitment, withdrawals and completion due to positive COVID-19 results, the maximum number enrolled in any week was 423 people.

resultsA total of 4290 tests were included. Participation rates varied across the period ranging from 25.9% to 72.1% of enrolled participants. The total positivity of COVID-19 was 3.3%, with few influenza or RSV cases detected. Widespread use of RAT may have resulted in few symptomatic participants attending respiratory clinics. The weekly positivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 detected during the programme correlated with the incidence of notified cases in the corresponding communities.

conclusionThis testing-based surveillance programme could estimate disease trends and be a useful tool in settings where testing is less common or accessible. Difficulties with recruitment meant the study was underpowered. The frontline sentinel nature of workplaces meant participants were not representative of the general population but were high-risk groups providing early warning of disease.

Indexed as

COVID-19Influenza, HumanRespiratory Syncytial Virus InfectionsSARS-CoV-2Sentinel SurveillanceAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleHumansIncidenceLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedQueenslandSeasonsCOVID-19epidemiologic studiesepidemiologypublic healthSARS-CoV-2 infection

Identifiers

PMID38653507
PMCPMC11043701

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.