Virological Surveillance of Acute Respiratory Infection in Primary Health Care in Metropolitan France

Virological Surveillance of Acute Respiratory Infection in Primary Health Care in Metropolitan France

Every year in the fall and winter, numerous respiratory viruses (such as influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), RSV, rhinovirus, and metapneumovirus) circulate in mainland France, causing acute respiratory infections (ARIs). These viruses can cause epidemics of varying severity, requiring close monitoring to determine their circulation levels and adapt public health measures accordingly. In France, ARI surveillance relies on two networks: the Sentinelles network in primary care and the RENAL network in hospitals. The Sentinelles surveillance is conducted in collaboration with Santé publique France, the National Reference Center for Respiratory Infection Viruses (Institut Pasteur and Hospices Civils de Lyon), and the University of Corsica. As part of the virological surveillance of ARIs, Sentinelles physicians are asked to collect nasopharyngeal swabs or saliva samples from a sample of patients presenting with an ARI during their clinic visits. This surveillance makes it possible to identify respiratory viruses circulating in primary care (general practice and pediatrics), to describe confirmed cases for each of the circulating viruses, and to estimate the impact of each on general practice. This surveillance also allows for the evaluation of the effectiveness of vaccines against influenza and COVID-19.

Inclusion Criteria:

• be seen by a general practitioner or pediatrician participating in the Sentinelles surveillance program;
• between week 40 (late September-early October) and week 15 (mid-April) of each year
• have an acute respiratory infection (ARI) as defined below: Sudden onset of fever (or feeling of fever) and respiratory symptoms
• have given oral consent to participate in this monitoring or, in the case of minors, oral consent given by the child's legal guardian(s) present at the consultation

Exclusion Criteria:

• a person who is subject to a court-ordered protective measure;
• a person who is under guardianship or conservatorship, unless accompanied by their legal guardian or unless the legal guardian objects to their participation;
• a person who is not in a condition to receive information or give consent.