An evaluation of coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] surveillance system, Mae Sot Hospital, Thailand, 1 March–31 October 2020

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the infectious disease causing a global pandemic. Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) has established the COVID-19 surveillance system (COVID-19-SS) since the beginning of this pandemic. This study aimed to describe COVID-19-SS, its quantitative and qualitative attributes, and provide recommendations for improvement in MSH during 1 March–31 October 2020.
Methods: This study was designed as qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study conducted at MSH. Medical records of cases with ICD10 TM diagnosis of COVID-19 from both in-patient and out-patient departments during 1 March 2020 to 31 October 2020 were reviewed and analyzed. COVID-19 case investigation reports and laboratory results of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 were also reviewed. In the qualitative study, all level of health personnel involving were individually interviewed during the study period.
Results: The quantitative study showed 134 PUI (patient under investigation) cases from medical records, case investigation reports and laboratory results, compared to 129 in the surveillance report, giving the sensitivity of the PUI-SS of 96.3%. Five PUI cases that were not reported occurred during changes of the PUI-SS. The predictive value positive (PVP) of the PUI-SS was 97.01% (129/133). Accuracy of the surveillance report was 100% for name, gender, address, and nationality. Accurate reporting of age, date of diagnosis, and date of treatment was 98.4%, 97.6%, and 97.6% respectively. Data of gender, age, month of illness, and address in the surveillance report could be representative. About 82.2% of PUI cases could be reported within 1 day after diagnosis and the remaining could be reported 2–5 days. There were 9 confirmed COVID-19 cases both in the medical records and COVID-19-SS. The sensitivity, PVP, and accuracy of the COVID-19-SS were 100%. All the 9 cases could be reported in the system within 1 day after diagnosis. In a qualitative study, most of the personnel thought this COVID-19-SS was convenient, flexible, stable, acceptable, and useful.
Conclusion: The COVID-19-SS in MSH was good. However, since the surveillance system, risk area determination, and definitions of PUI and COVID-19 cases were modified from time to time, it is essential for health personnel involving the system to realize and follow the updated guideline rapidly.