Case classification of 2014 Lyme disease reports to the Allegheny County Health Department

Jones, Lynda (2015) Case classification of 2014 Lyme disease reports to the Allegheny County Health Department. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

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Abstract

Lyme borreliosis is a tickborne infectious disease and is reportable at the national, state, and local level. The Allegheny County Health Department receives reports of Lyme disease and cases are classified as confirmed, probable, suspect, or not a case based on CDC criteria. Reports of Lyme disease in Allegheny County have increased four-fold in 2013 to 145 reports compared to yearly 2004-2011 reports, however it is unknown if reported cases translate to confirmed Lyme cases. In Lyme endemic Allegheny County, a confirmed case has either a physician-diagnosed erythema migrans or evidence of late clinical manifestations coupled with a positive laboratory test. However, most reports are missing information required to classify cases. The objective of this project was to follow-up the reported cases to complete the necessary information to determine the proportion of confirmed cases among reports. Providers were contacted and asked to complete a Lyme disease investigation form via phone interview or fax. The follow-up process was performed for 105 reports received in Jan-May 2014. Obtaining adequate information for case classification was successful for 74/105 (70%) reports; 60 Allegheny County residents and 14 non-residents. Of 60 reports on Allegheny County residents, 18/29 (62%) of IgM positives, 6/8 (75%) of IgG positives, and 23/23 (100%) with clinical information only were classified as confirmed or probable. Extrapolating from the number of unclassified initial reports may help to estimate the incidence of Lyme disease in Allegheny County if resources are unavailable for follow-ups. This project has public health significance as calculating the proportion of confirmed and probable cases among reports received will determine resource allocation for Lyme disease surveillance, which is important for observing trends and targeting prevention efforts to reduce Lyme disease in Allegheny County.

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Details

Item Type:	Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status:	Unpublished
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Jones, Lynda
Contributors:	Contribution Contributors Name Email Pitt Username ORCID Committee Chair Haggerty, Catherine haggerty@pitt.edu HAGGERTY UNSPECIFIED Committee Member Marques, Ernesto T A marques@pitt.edu MARQUES UNSPECIFIED
Date:	2015
Date Type:	Submission
Access Restriction:	No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Publisher:	University of Pittsburgh
Institution:	University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs:	School of Public Health > Epidemiology
Degree:	MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type:	Master Essay
Refereed:	Yes
Date Deposited:	01 Mar 2016 17:36
Last Modified:	11 May 2023 10:56
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25309

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