title: The Brighton Collaboration: addressing the need for standardized case definitions of adverse events following immunization (AEFI).
abstract: To further scientific progress of immunization safety, comparability of data from clinical trials and surveillance systems is essential. Comparability requires the availability of standardized case definitions for adverse events following immunization (AEFI) and guidelines for case determination, recording and data presentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  International collaborative working groups, consisting of professional volunteers from developed and developing countries, conduct systematic literature reviews to develop 50-100 AEFI definitions. Case definitions are finalized after a comment period by a reference group consisting of organizations concerned with immunization safety, and will be disseminated via the world-wide-web and other means for free world-wide use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Literature reviews yielded substantial diversity in data collection and presentation. We have developed standardized case definitions together with guidelines for use in clinical trials and surveillance systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diversity in safety methods leads to considerable loss of scientific information. We have built the necessary international network of currently about 300 participants from patient care, public health, scientific, pharmaceutical, regulatory and professional organizations to develop and assess standardized AEFI case definitions and guidelines. Evaluation studies, global implementation, ongoing definition development and a continuously growing network will be essential for the success of the collaboration.
authors.affiliation: University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. secretariat@brightoncollaboration.org
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonhoeffer
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duclos
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heijbel
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heininger
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jefferson
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loupi
mesh_terms: D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000075202:Contraindications; D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012449:Safety; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects; D014612:Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines; D017778:Vaccines, Combined