Letter to the Editor: Pathogens detected from patients with acute respiratory infections negative for SARS-CoV-2, Saitama, Japan, 2020

Author: Yuzo Arima ¹ ; Yuuki Tsuchihashi ² ; Osamu Takahara ¹ ; Reiko Shimbashi ¹ ; Takeshi Arashiro ^{1
,

3} ; Ayu Kasamatsu ¹ ; Yusuke Kobayashi ^{1
,

4} ; Katsuhiro Komase ¹ ; Takuri Takahashi ¹ ; Kanako Otani ¹ ; Fangyu Yan ¹ ; Taro Kamigaki ¹ ; Kiyosu Taniguchi ⁵ ; Motoi Suzuki ¹
Author Information

1. Center for Surveillance, Immunization, and Epidemiologic Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
2. Center for Field Epidemic Intelligence, Research and Professional Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
3. Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
4. Center for Field Epidemic Intelligence, Research and Professional Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
5. National Hospital Organization Mie National Hospital, Mie, Japan
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: surveillance, bias, descriptive epidemiology, respiratory tract infections
From: Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2024;15(1):78-79
CountryWHO-WPRO
Language:English
Abstract: Utilizing data presented in the article by Miyashita et al., we illustrate the importance of testing data when assessing surveillance data. Accounting for the number of tests (denominator) and positivity (proportion of tests positive for a specific pathogen(s)) improves data interpretation in ways not possible from numerator case data alone.
Full text:2024070414224750195wpsar-15-1135.pdf