Jennifer L Guthrie1, David C Alexander2, Alex Marchand-Austin1, Karen Lam1, Michael Whelan1, Brenda Lee1, Colin Furness3,4, Elizabeth Rea5,6, Rebecca Stuart5, Julia Lechner5, Monali Varia7, Jennifer McLean7, Frances B Jamieson1,8. 1. Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. 3. Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 4. Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto. 5. Toronto Public Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 6. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. 7. Peel Public Health, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. 8. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Develop a tool to disseminate integrated laboratory, clinical, and demographic case data necessary for improved contact tracing and outbreak detection of tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: In 2007, the Public Health Ontario Laboratories implemented a universal genotyping program to monitor the spread of TB strains within Ontario. Ontario Universal Typing of TB (OUT-TB) Web utilizes geographic information system (GIS) technology with a relational database platform, allowing TB control staff to visualize genotyping matches and microbiological data within the context of relevant epidemiological and demographic data. RESULTS: OUT-TB Web is currently available to the 8 health units responsible for >85% of Ontario's TB cases and is a valuable tool for TB case investigation. Users identified key features to implement for application enhancements, including an e-mail alert function, customizable heat maps for visualizing TB and drug-resistant cases, socioeconomic map layers, a dashboard providing TB surveillance metrics, and a feature for animating the geographic spread of strains over time. CONCLUSION: OUT-TB Web has proven to be an award-winning application and a useful tool. Developed and enhanced using regular user feedback, future versions will include additional data sources, enhanced map and line-list filter capabilities, and development of a mobile app.
OBJECTIVE: Develop a tool to disseminate integrated laboratory, clinical, and demographic case data necessary for improved contact tracing and outbreak detection of tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: In 2007, the Public Health Ontario Laboratories implemented a universal genotyping program to monitor the spread of TB strains within Ontario. Ontario Universal Typing of TB (OUT-TB) Web utilizes geographic information system (GIS) technology with a relational database platform, allowing TB control staff to visualize genotyping matches and microbiological data within the context of relevant epidemiological and demographic data. RESULTS: OUT-TB Web is currently available to the 8 health units responsible for >85% of Ontario's TB cases and is a valuable tool for TB case investigation. Users identified key features to implement for application enhancements, including an e-mail alert function, customizable heat maps for visualizing TB and drug-resistant cases, socioeconomic map layers, a dashboard providing TB surveillance metrics, and a feature for animating the geographic spread of strains over time. CONCLUSION: OUT-TB Web has proven to be an award-winning application and a useful tool. Developed and enhanced using regular user feedback, future versions will include additional data sources, enhanced map and line-list filter capabilities, and development of a mobile app.
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