title: The role of the intensive care unit in real-time surveillance of emerging pandemics: the Italian GiViTI experience.
abstract: The prompt availability of reliable epidemiological information on emerging pandemics is crucial for public health policy-makers. Early in 2013, a possible new H1N1 epidemic notified by an intensive care unit (ICU) to GiViTI, the Italian ICU network, prompted the re-activation of the real-time monitoring system developed during the 2009-2010 pandemic. Based on data from 216 ICUs, we were able to detect and monitor an outbreak of severe H1N1 infection, and to compare the situation with previous years. The timely and correct assessment of the severity of an epidemic can be obtained by investigating ICU admissions, especially when historical comparisons can be made.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri',GiViTI Coordinating Center,Ranica,Bergamo,Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertolini
authors.affiliation: IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri',GiViTI Coordinating Center,Ranica,Bergamo,Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nattino
authors.affiliation: Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori,Università degli Studi,Milano,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Anestesia e Rianimazione,Azienda Ospedaliera Villa Scassi,Genova,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavola
authors.affiliation: IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri',GiViTI Coordinating Center,Ranica,Bergamo,Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crespi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri',GiViTI Coordinating Center,Ranica,Bergamo,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mondini
authors.affiliation: IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri',GiViTI Coordinating Center,Ranica,Bergamo,Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri',GiViTI Coordinating Center,Ranica,Bergamo,Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Previtali
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine St. Michael's Hospital University of Toronto.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Servizio Anestesia e Rianimazione,Ospedale Civile San Martino,Belluno,Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poole
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000502:physiology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D058873:Pandemics; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Infectious disease epidemiology; influenza; pandemic; surveillance system