HIV surveillance: a dynamic, not static, process to assure accurate local data.
OBJECTIVE
Accurate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) surveillance data is critical for the allocation of resources for care services and community prevention planning efforts.


OBJECTIVE
To validate HIV status of women and assess risk factor information on all persons reported with either heterosexual transmission or no identifiable risk factor.


METHODS
The surveillance database is updated continually as additional information is received on all cases allowing continual monitoring of pregnant and nonpregnant women. Repeated queries of various record systems were employed to validate or reclassify reported heterosexual or no identifiable risk factor information for both men and women.


RESULTS
Four pregnant women (24%) and one nonpregnant woman (0.4%) initially meeting HIV surveillance criteria were demonstrated not to be infected. Risk factors were validated or reclassified for 77 (58%) patients initially reported with heterosexual transmission or no identifiable risk.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV surveillance should be a dynamic process and continual updating of case reports provides the most accurate information on which to base service and prevention decisions.
Griffin
R G
RG
Kansas City Health Department, Communicable Disease Prevention Program, Missouri 64108, USA. ronvgriffin@kcmo.org
Wilkinson
T H
TH
Hoff
G L
GL
D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors