Close encounters of the infectious kind: methods to measure social mixing behaviour.
A central tenet of close-contact or respiratory infection epidemiology is that infection patterns within human populations are related to underlying patterns of social interaction. Until recently, few researchers had attempted to quantify potentially infectious encounters made between people. Now, however, several studies have quantified social mixing behaviour, using a variety of methods. Here, we review the methodologies employed, suggest other appropriate methods and technologies, and outline future research challenges for this rapidly advancing field of research.
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, UK. jonread@liverpool.ac.uk
J M
JM
Read
W J
WJ
Edmunds
S
S
Riley
J
J
Lessler
D A T
DA
Cummings
D016358:Contact Tracing; D006801:Humans; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D057233:Radio Frequency Identification Device; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D012919:Social Behavior; D058992:Social Participation