tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Clinical Infectious Diseases
A Survey of Emergency Department 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Surge Preparedness?Atlanta, Georgia, July?October 2009
1. David Sugerman1,
2. Kelly H. Nadeau5,
3. Kathryn Lafond2,
4. Wendy Cameron6,
5. Karl Soetebier4,
6. Michael Jhung2,
7. Alexander Isakov7,
8. Ian Greenwald8,
9. Karen Neil3,
10. Stephanie Schrag4, and
11. Alicia Fry2
+ Author Affiliations
1.
1Global Immunization Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
2.
2Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
3.
3Epidemic Intelligence Service, Office of Workforce and Career Development
4.
4Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
5.
5Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Georgia Department of Community Health
6.
6Health Information Systems Section, Office of Epidemiology, Evaluation, and Health Information. Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources
7.
7Executive Director, Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
8.
8Chief Medical Officer, Duke Preparedness and Response Center, Durham, North Carolina
1. Correspondence: David E Sugerman, M.D., MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Mailstop E-05, Atlanta, GA 30333 (ggi4@cdc.gov).
Abstract
During August through September 2009, a surge in emergency department (ED) visits for 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) illness occurred in Georgia, particularly among children. To understand surge preparedness and capacity, we obtained influenza-like illness (ILI) ED visit data from the Georgia State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SendSS) and conducted a retrospective, Internet-based survey among all 26 metro Atlanta ED managers with reference to the period 1 July?1 October 2009. SendSS detected a marked and progressive increase in mean monthly ILI visits from 1 July?1 October 2009, which more than tripled (from 399 to 2196) for the 2 participating EDs that cared for pediatric patients during this time. ED managers reported patient volume surges, resulting in space and supply limitations, especially at pediatric EDs. Most (92%) of the facilities had current pandemic influenza plans. Pandemic planning can help to ensure preparedness for natural and man-made disasters and for future influenza pandemics.
http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/52/suppl_1/S177.full
A Survey of Emergency Department 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Surge Preparedness?Atlanta, Georgia, July?October 2009
1. David Sugerman1,
2. Kelly H. Nadeau5,
3. Kathryn Lafond2,
4. Wendy Cameron6,
5. Karl Soetebier4,
6. Michael Jhung2,
7. Alexander Isakov7,
8. Ian Greenwald8,
9. Karen Neil3,
10. Stephanie Schrag4, and
11. Alicia Fry2
+ Author Affiliations
1.
1Global Immunization Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
2.
2Influenza Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
3.
3Epidemic Intelligence Service, Office of Workforce and Career Development
4.
4Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
5.
5Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Georgia Department of Community Health
6.
6Health Information Systems Section, Office of Epidemiology, Evaluation, and Health Information. Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources
7.
7Executive Director, Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
8.
8Chief Medical Officer, Duke Preparedness and Response Center, Durham, North Carolina
1. Correspondence: David E Sugerman, M.D., MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Mailstop E-05, Atlanta, GA 30333 (ggi4@cdc.gov).
Abstract
During August through September 2009, a surge in emergency department (ED) visits for 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) illness occurred in Georgia, particularly among children. To understand surge preparedness and capacity, we obtained influenza-like illness (ILI) ED visit data from the Georgia State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SendSS) and conducted a retrospective, Internet-based survey among all 26 metro Atlanta ED managers with reference to the period 1 July?1 October 2009. SendSS detected a marked and progressive increase in mean monthly ILI visits from 1 July?1 October 2009, which more than tripled (from 399 to 2196) for the 2 participating EDs that cared for pediatric patients during this time. ED managers reported patient volume surges, resulting in space and supply limitations, especially at pediatric EDs. Most (92%) of the facilities had current pandemic influenza plans. Pandemic planning can help to ensure preparedness for natural and man-made disasters and for future influenza pandemics.
http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/52/suppl_1/S177.full