Page 8 - PCIRN-annual-report-2014-flipbook

SERIOUS OUTCOMES SURVEILLANCE (SOS) NETWORK The Serious Outcomes Surveillance (SOS) Network is in its ffth year conducting active surveillance for Infuenza requiring hospitalization in Canadian adults. This surveillance covers more than 18,000 beds in over forty sentinel hospitals across seven provinces. The study is designed to assess vaccine effectiveness in prevention of hospitalization and death in adults 65 years and older due to infuenza. Additionally, the SOS network studies adults admitted to hospital with Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) and/ or Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD). In these patients we are describing the frequency and serotype distribution of S. pneumoniae in Canadian hospitals. In addition to collecting data regarding the vaccine The infrastructure established in the SOS Network effectiveness, SOS collects data to describe other is ideally suited to continue conducting active factors that may impact outcomes for these cases. surveillance for hospitalizations related to vaccine This includes the presence of co-morbidities, as well preventable illness and current funding will see the as measurement of frailty and immunosenescence network’s roster of projects continuing through 2014. in adults 65 and older, and how these factors impact the severity and the outcome of the disease. For the past two seasons the network has been able to provide an unmatched interim analysis report to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) regarding vaccine effectiveness of the current vaccine within that season. In addition, the network has contributed a weekly report to PHAC regarding levels of infuenza activity at sites across Canada for use in the national Fluwatch publication. In the current season we are also acting in a supplemental capacity as a pilot project to validate existing mechanisms for Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). The SOS team includes Infectious Disease Specialists at each site, as well as team members with other specialties such as physicians specializing in Geriatric medicine. The samples for the primary study outcomes are handled by the PCIRN Laboratory at the Canadian Center for Vaccinology in Halifax under the direction of Dr. Todd Hatchette and Dr. Jason LeBlanc. Samples specifc to answering questions regarding immunosenescence will be processed by Dr. Janet McElhaney in Sudbury, and Dr. Jonathan Bramson in Hamilton. PHAC/CIHR INFLUENZA RESEARCH NETWORK