[Respiratory tract infections in institutions for elderly people: the GROG Géronto-Alsace, strategy of surveillance and alert].
OBJECTIVE
Outbreaks of respiratory tract infections are common in institutions for elderly people. The objective of our study was the implementation of a network including 11 institutions to determine the frequency of such outbreaks. Using the collected data, criteria and alert levels are defined to assess the level of respiratory tract infections and develop appropriate interventions.


METHODS
Prospective surveillance for respiratory tract infection was conducted in 11 institutions in Alsace for 2 years. Clinical definitions were used to identify the infected residents. For the identification of influenza virus, nasopharyngeal samples using swabs were obtained and rapid tests (immunoassay) were performed.


RESULTS
During the surveillance, outbreaks were identified in institutions. The same observations occurred in all institutions at the same time. Alert levels were defined in order to characterize the outbreak period and to improve detection and control of outbreaks of respiratory tract infections.


CONCLUSIONS
Ours findings show the importance of an adequate surveillance and networks improve the impact of such measures.
Gaspard
P
P
Equipe Interétablissements d'hygiène hospitalière, coordination GROG Géronto-Alsace, centre hospitalier de Rouffach, 68250 Rouffach, France. ph.gaspard@ch-rouffach.fr
Mosnier
A
A
Cohen
J-M
JM
Gunther
D
D
Quintle
F
F
Eschbach
E
E
Schwindenhammer
R
R
Stoll-Keller
F
F
Gayet
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D005602:France; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*