The impact on primary care of a large waterborne campylobacter outbreak in Norway: a controlled observational study.
Scand J Prim Health Care
; 42(1): 187-194, 2024 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38189827
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Document the impact of an outbreak of gastroenteritis on local primary health care services, compared to a control period.DESIGN:
Controlled observational study with data from the outbreak and a control period. Data obtained from electronic medical records (EMR) of general practitioners (GPs) and the out-of-hours (OOH) service. Telephone data from the OOH service's telephone records.SETTING:
Campylobacteriosis outbreak in Askøy municipality, Norway in 2019. Over 2000 individuals were infected.SUBJECTS:
Patients in contact with GPs and the OOH service during the outbreak and a control period. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Patient contacts with GPs and the OOH service during the outbreak and a control period.RESULTS:
There was a 36% increase in contacts during the outbreak compared to the control period (4798 vs. 3528), with the OOH service handling 78% of outbreak-related contacts. Telephone advice was the dominant method for managing the increase in contacts to primary care, both in OOH services and daytime general practice (OR 3.73 CI [3.24-4.28]). Children aged 0-4 years had increased use of primary care during the outbreak (OR 1.51 CI [1.28-1.78]). GPs referred 25% and OOH services referred 75% of 70 hospitalized cases.CONCLUSION:
The OOH service handled most of the patients during the outbreak, with support from daytime general practice. The outbreak caused a shift towards telephone advice as a means of providing care. Young children significantly increased their use of primary care during the outbreak.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Campylobacter
/
Atención Posterior
/
Medicina General
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
Límite:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
País como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article