1This study aimed to determine the incidence of amebiasis, explore diagnostic approaches, investigate physician practices, and understand surveillance perspectives. A mixed-method hospital-based sentinel surveillance design was employed, combining quantitative analysis of diagnostic tests with qualitative interviews of emergency department (ED) physicians. Using an exploratory case study approach, data were systematically collected to assess amoebiasis diagnosis and surveillance. Retrospective cross-sectional analysis included adults presenting with gastroenteritis symptoms at the ED, where blood data and amebiasis test results were compared between patient groups. In addition, ten ED physicians were interviewed to explore diagnostic practices and patient care, with transcripts analyzed for themes and assessed for reliability. Over the study period, 676 ED patients exhibited gastroenteritis symptoms, of whom 293 provided stool samples for amebiasis antigen testing. Among these, 65 (22.2%) tested positive for amebiasis antigens, with no significant age or gender differences observed. Temporal variation was noted, as August accounted for the highest number of tests (31.1%), while September recorded the highest positivity rate (21.5%). Blood parameter analyses revealed significantly lower urea levels (p = 0.018), reduced eosinophil counts (p = 0.023), and decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (p = 0.039) in the amebiasis-positive group. Interviews with physicians revealed important considerations regarding testing decisions, discharge protocols, and the role of EDs as critical points of initial patient contact in surveillance efforts. Reported challenges included time constraints, limited diagnostic facilities, and high patient loads. Recommendations for strengthening ED-based surveillance included targeted training, accurate diagnostic coding, strategic examinations, inter-departmental cooperation, and raising community awareness. Overall, the findings demonstrate that sentinel surveillance in EDs offers a promising approach for monitoring infectious diseases such as amebiasis, supporting early detection and improving management strategies while highlighting the untapped potential of EDs in national and global surveillance systems.
#OpenAccess
-
#JournalPublication
-
#PeerReview
-
#PublishingTips
-
#SciencePublishing
-
#AcademicJournals
-
#ResearchPublication
No comments:
Post a Comment