Utility of algorithms for the analysis of integrated Salmonella surveillance data.
The objective of this study was to assess the use of statistical algorithms in identifying significant clusters of Salmonella spp. across different sectors of the food chain within an integrated surveillance programme. Three years of weekly Salmonella serotype data from farm animals, meat, and humans were used to create baseline models (first two years) and identify weeks with counts higher than expected using surveillance algorithms in the third (test) year. During the test year, an expert working group identified events of interest reviewing descriptive analyses of same data. The algorithms did not identify Salmonella events presenting as gradual increases or seasonal patterns as identified by the working group. However, the algorithms did identify clusters for further investigation, suggesting they could be a valuable complementary tool within an integrated surveillance system.
School of Population and Public Health,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada.
L
L
Vrbova
School of Population and Public Health,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada.
D M
DM
Patrick
Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative,University of Saskatchewan,Saskatoon,SaskatchewanCanada.
C
C
Stephen
Geography and Environmental Studies,Wilfrid Laurier University,Waterloo,Ontario,Canada.
C
C
Robertson
School of Population and Public Health,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada.
M
M
Koehoorn
Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses,Public Health Agency of Canada,Guelph,Ontario,Canada.
E J
EJ
Parmley
British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture,Abbotsford,British Columbia,Canada.
N I
NI
DE With
School of Population and Public Health,University of British Columbia,Vancouver,British Columbia,Canada.
E
E
Galanis
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring / Q000662:veterinary; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D012475:Salmonella; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
Foodborne zoonoses; Salmonella; food safety; public health; surveillance