[Microbiological Surveillance Network in the Valencian community].
BACKGROUND
Computerization of microbiological laboratories generates an enormous amount of data that has not been fully exploited due to the heterogeneity of the information systems used. The aim of this paper is to present the Microbiological Surveillance Network of the Valencian Community, which provides real-time detection of circulating microorganisms and resistance patterns, and enables microbiological surveillance in the public health setting.


RESULTS
We describe the Microbiological Surveillance Network of the Valencian Community, an information system that gathers, analyzes and disseminates the results of microbiological testing to health professionals in our setting.


CONCLUSIONS
Development of the Microbiological Surveillance Network has made available a centralized system with the results from all the microbiological analyses performed in hospital laboratories of the Valencian Community. This effort provides valuable information for public health, and for studies in research and quality. In addition, it demonstrates the important role of microbiology within the field of medicine and public health.
Muñoz
Isabel
I
Area de Epidemiología, Dirección General de Salud Pública de Valencia, Valencia, España. munyoz_isa@gva.es
Vanaclocha
Hermelinda
H
Martín-Sierra
Miguel
M
González
Francisco
F
D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D003199:Computer Systems; D034742:Electronic Mail; D058016:Health Facility Administration; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D011159:Population Surveillance; D040442:Public Health Informatics / Q000458:organization & administration; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology