Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, 78 Giai Phong Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Bull World Health Organ. 2010 Jun;88(6):458-61. doi: 10.2471/BLT.09.067959. Epub 2010 Jan 26.
Streptococcus suis is a common cause of adult bacterial meningitis in Viet Nam, and possibly other parts of Asia, yet this disabling infection has been largely neglected. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment are relatively straightforward and affordable but, in early 2007, no national diagnostic, case management or prevention guidelines existed in Viet Nam.
Enhanced detection of S. suis infections was established in 2007 as part of a collaborative research programme between the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a key national hospital with very close links to the Ministry of Health, and a research group affiliated with Oxford University based in Viet Nam. The results were reported directly to policy-makers at the Ministry of Health.
Viet Nam is a low-income country with a health-care system that has seen considerable improvements and increased autonomy. However, parts of the system remain fairly centralized the Ministry of Health.
Following the improved detection and reporting of S. suis cases, the Ministry of Health issued guidance to all hospitals in Viet Nam on the clinical and laboratory diagnosis, treatment and prevention of S. suis. A public health laboratory diagnostic service was established at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and training courses were conducted for clinicians and microbiologists. Ministry of Health guidance on surveillance and control of communicable diseases was updated to include a section on S. suis.
Research collaborations can efficiently inform and influence national responses if they are well positioned to reach policy-makers.
猪链球菌是越南成人细菌性脑膜炎的常见病因，也可能是亚洲其他地区的病因，但这种使人丧失能力的感染在很大程度上被忽视了。预防、诊断和治疗相对简单且负担得起，但在 2007 年初，越南还没有国家诊断、病例管理或预防指南。
2007 年，作为国家热带病医院（一家与卫生部关系非常密切的重要国家医院）与设在越南的牛津大学研究小组之间合作研究方案的一部分，建立了增强对猪链球菌感染的检测。结果直接向卫生部的决策者报告。
越南是一个低收入国家，其医疗保健系统取得了相当大的改善和增强了自主权。然而，该系统的部分仍相当集中在卫生部。
在改进了猪链球菌病例的检测和报告之后，卫生部向越南所有医院发布了关于猪链球菌的临床和实验室诊断、治疗和预防的指南。在国家卫生和流行病学研究所建立了一个公共卫生实验室诊断服务，并为临床医生和微生物学家举办了培训课程。卫生部关于传染病监测和控制的指南得到了更新，其中包括猪链球菌部分。
如果研究合作能够很好地与决策者接触，那么它们可以有效地为国家应对措施提供信息和影响。
