Abstract
Early detection of and treatment for chronic Q fever might prevent potentially life-threatening complications. We performed a chronic Q fever screening program in general practitioner practices in the Netherlands 10 years after a large Q fever outbreak. Thirteen general practitioner practices located in outbreak areas selected 3,419 patients who had specific underlying medical conditions, of whom 1,642 (48%) participated. Immunofluorescence assay of serum showed that 289 (18%) of 1,642 participants had a previous Coxiella burnetii infection (IgG II titer >1:64), and 9 patients were suspected of having chronic Q fever (IgG I y titer >1:512). After medical evaluation, 4 of those patients received a chronic Q fever diagnosis. The cost of screening was higher than estimated earlier, but the program was still cost-effective in certain high risk groups. Years after a large Q fever outbreak, targeted screening still detected patients with chronic Q fever and is estimated to be cost-effective.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1403-1409 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was supported by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands..
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved.
Funding
This study was supported by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands..