Edge Victoria L, Pollari Frank, Lim Gillian, Aramini Jeff, Sockett Paul, Martin S Wayne, Wilson Jeff, Ellis Andrea
Health Canada, Guelph, Ontario.
Can J Public Health. 2004 Nov-Dec;95(6):446-50. doi: 10.1007/BF03403991.
To ascertain if monitoring over-the-counter (OTC) drug sales could provide a timely syndromic surveillance method of detecting outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness.
This study evaluated the potential of a syndromic surveillance system by comparing retrospective pharmacy OTC sales of anti-nauseants and anti-diarrheals to emergency room visits and case numbers from two Canadian outbreaks related to water contamination by Cryptosporidium, and E.coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter.
Local sales trends of weekly aggregate OTC products were comparable to the outbreak epidemic curves. Statistical control tests on the sales data indicated the start of the outbreak periods.
An automated monitoring tool based on spatial and temporal trend analyses of daily OTC sales would provide supplemental community health information for public health officials that is timelier than currently available laboratory-based surveillance systems.
确定监测非处方（OTC）药物销售是否能提供一种及时的症状监测方法，以检测胃肠道疾病的暴发。
本研究通过比较回顾性药房抗恶心药和止泻药的非处方销售情况与来自加拿大两起与隐孢子虫、大肠杆菌O157:H7和弯曲杆菌水污染相关疫情的急诊就诊人数及病例数，评估了症状监测系统的潜力。
每周非处方产品总销售额的本地销售趋势与疫情流行曲线相当。对销售数据的统计对照测试表明了疫情暴发期的开始。
基于每日非处方销售的时空趋势分析的自动化监测工具，将为公共卫生官员提供比目前基于实验室的监测系统更及时的补充社区健康信息。
