Review Article

Biosurveillance: A Review and Update

Table 1

Characteristics of bioterrorism-related epidemics that affect detection through clinical recognition versus syndromic surveillance.

CharacteristicsaClinical recognitionbSyndromic surveillancec

Duration and variability of incubation periodBroader distribution of incubation period increases likelihood that patients with short incubation-period disease would be diagnosed before a statistical threshold of syndromic cases is exceeded.More narrow distribution of incubation period which leads to a steeper epidemic curve in the initial phases increase likelihood that statistical threshold would be exceeded sooner.
Duration of nonspecific prodromal phaseShorter prodrome increases likelihood of recognition or diagnosis at more severe or fulminant stage.Longer prodrome increases likelihood that increase in syndromic manifestations would be detectable and that recognition of more severe stage (at which a diagnosis is more apt to be made) would be delayed.
Presence or absence of clinical sign that would heighten suspicion of diagnosisPresence increases likelihood of earlier clinical recognition and diagnosis (e.g., mediastinal widening on chest X-ray in inhalational anthrax or multiple cases of rare disease presenting at similar time).Absence decreases likelihood that diagnosis would be considered clinically, increasing opportunity for earlier detection by means of syndromic surveillance.
Likelihood of making diagnosis in the course of routine clinical evaluationIf diagnosis is apt to be made in the course of a routine diagnostic evaluation (not dependent on clinical suspicion of specific bioterrorism infection), early diagnosis through clinical care is likely.If diagnosis is dependent on the use of a special test that is unlikely to be ordered in the absence of clinical suspicion of diagnosis, then diagnosis in clinical care may be delayed, increasing the opportunity for early detection through syndromic surveillance.

aInfection or disease attributes that may affect detection of an epidemic.
bIncreases likelihood of initial detection through routine clinical care and reporting.
cIncreases likelihood of initial detection through syndromic surveillance.