title: Use of the scan statistic to detect temporal clustering of poisonings.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the use of the scan test to detect temporal clustering of poison control center data. We applied the scan test to a computerized data set consisting of all cases of carbon monoxide poisoning reported to our Poison Control Center in 1988. Using a time window of three days, the scan test identified three statistically significant temporal clusters. A review of case and climatologic data revealed that two of the clusters were due to family outbreaks and one was due to a sudden cold spell. We conclude that the scan test is a potentially useful surveillance tool which can be easily applied to poison control center data.
authors.affiliation: Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Poison Control Center, Cook County Hospital, University of Illinois, Chicago.
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Hryhorczuk
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Frateschi
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lipscomb
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002980:Climate; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies