Enhancing the notification system for surveillance of infectious diseases in Qatar during the FIFA World Cup 2022: project overview.

BACKGROUND: In 2022, the Surveillance Department of the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar adopted an integrated project called the Notification Enhancement Project (NEP) to enhance the infectious disease notification system. Efficient surveillance and notification promote early alerts and allow immediate interference in reducing morbidity and mortality from outbreaks. The project was designed to improve the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and notification processes of healthcare workers in Qatar by increasing their reporting rates. METHODS: The strategy for comprehensively enhancing notifications was based on the observation and evaluation of the current notification system, the implementation of interventions, and post-evaluation follow-up. To implement the project, we relied on three aspects: effective methods used in previous relevant studies through a literature review, feedback received from healthcare workers, and suggestions from public health surveillance experts from the Ministry of Public Health, Qatar. A preassessment was conducted through an online survey by the Ministry of Public Health. The effectiveness of the different interventions was assessed by analyzing the data of notified patients reported through the Disease Surveillance and Reporting Electronic System. Pre- and postintervention assessments were performed by comparing the percentage of patients notified by healthcare providers with that of patients confirmed by healthcare providers in the laboratory to compare the notification rates over three time periods between January and December 2022. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in the infectious disease notification process. A comparison before and after the implementation of the interventions revealed an increase in the communicable disease notification rate among healthcare workers. Pre- and postintervention data were compared. Infectious disease notification activities by healthcare workers increased from 2.5% between January and May 2022 to 41.4% between November and December 2022. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the efficiency of different interventions in correcting the underreporting of infectious diseases. Our findings suggest that implementing the Notification Enhancement Project significantly improves notification rates. We recommend continuing interventions through constant education and training, maintaining solid communication with HCWs through regular reminder emails and feedback, periodic assessment of the electronic notification system, and engagement of healthcare workers and other stakeholders to sustain and expand progress achieved through continuous evaluation.

Genetic polymorphism of GSTT1 and GSTM1 and susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major public health care problem worldwide due to its increasing prevalence, morbidity and mortality. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is known to be the fourth leading cause of death and the only cause of death, which is increasing. It is generally accepted that cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for COPD. Nevertheless, only 10% to 20% of chronic smokers develop the severe impairment of pulmonary functions associated with COPD. This indicates the presence of genetic predisposing factors in its pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that genetic polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1)and/or glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) is associated with COPD in smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was done on 34 patients with COPD and 34 matched controls. DNA was extracted from white blood cells by salting out method. GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotypes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The fragments were then analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS program. RESULTS: The frequency of carriers of null GSTT1 genotype was 50% among cases compared to 44.1% in the control group. Carriers of null GSTT1 were at minor risk of developing COPD when compared with carriers of the wild GSTT1 genotype (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.5-3.3). In case of GSTM1, the frequency of carriers of null GSTM1 genotype was 52.9% among cases compared to 26.5% in controls. Carriers of null GSTM1 were at much higher risk of developing COPD (OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.1-8.6). Furthermore, the risk of developing COPD was increased among carrier of null GSTT1 & GSTM1 haplotype (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.1-11.6). CONCLUSION: Carriers of null GSTM1 genotype were at high risk of developing COPD especially when they were null GSTT1 and GSTM1 haplotype.