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Real-time Syndromic Surveillance

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It is estimated that approximately 40% of the UK population consult their general practitioner on at least one occasion during the year because of infection, and that nearly one third of all consultations in general practice are concerned with infection.

Eighty percent of antibiotics prescribed are used in primary care.The effective management of infectious disease and the ability to respond to health protection emergencies depends on good surveillance. The surveillance of infection and of other threats to public health in primary care and the community forms a cornerstone of health protection surveillance.

The HPA West Midlands Regional Surveillance Unit is home to a small team who take a national lead for the HPA Centre for Infections on health protection surveillance in primary care. Staff work in close collaboration with other organisations such as the Royal College of General Practitioner's Research and Surveillance Centre, University of Nottingham Division of Primary Care and NHS Direct as well as other HPA Centres and Academic units.

Symptoms reported to NHS Direct and diagnoses made by general practitioners form the basis of the surveillance of infectious disease in primary care. The General Practice Research Database, which enables the linkage of diagnosis with prescribing, has also been used to look at recent trends in antibiotic prescribing and disease incidence.


 

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