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Review
. 2024 Apr 17;21(4):489.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph21040489.

Early Detection and Monitoring of Gastrointestinal Infections Using Syndromic Surveillance: A Systematic Review

Olubusola Adedire  1   2   3 , Nicola K Love  3   4 , Helen E Hughes  2   3 , Iain Buchan  1   3 , Roberto Vivancos  3   5 , Alex J Elliot  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Early Detection and Monitoring of Gastrointestinal Infections Using Syndromic Surveillance: A Systematic Review

Olubusola Adedire et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The underreporting of laboratory-reported cases of community-based gastrointestinal (GI) infections poses a challenge for epidemiologists understanding the burden and seasonal patterns of GI pathogens. Syndromic surveillance has the potential to overcome the limitations of laboratory reporting through real-time data and more representative population coverage. This systematic review summarizes the utility of syndromic surveillance for early detection and surveillance of GI infections. Relevant articles were identified using the following keyword combinations: 'early warning', 'detection', 'gastrointestinal activity', 'gastrointestinal infections', 'syndrome monitoring', 'real-time monitoring', 'syndromic surveillance'. In total, 1820 studies were identified, 126 duplicates were removed, and 1694 studies were reviewed. Data extraction focused on studies reporting the routine use and effectiveness of syndromic surveillance for GI infections using relevant GI symptoms. Eligible studies (n = 29) were included in the narrative synthesis. Syndromic surveillance for GI infections has been implemented and validated for routine use in ten countries, with emergency department attendances being the most common source. Evidence suggests that syndromic surveillance can be effective in the early detection and routine monitoring of GI infections; however, 24% of the included studies did not provide conclusive findings. Further investigation is necessary to comprehensively understand the strengths and limitations associated with each type of syndromic surveillance system.

Keywords: diarrhoea; early detection; gastroenteritis; gastrointestinal infections; syndromic surveillance; vomiting.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flowchart outlining the results of the literature search.
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