Orchidée Takes a New Step Forward in Hospital Epidemiological Surveillance

cp_orchidee_20260917.pdf

Published on 17 September 2026

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Santé publique France
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Stéphanie Champion: 01 41 79 67 48
Marie Delibéros: 01 41 79 69 61
Camille Le Hyaric: 01 41 79 68 64

Better detection and monitoring of outbreaks in hospitals using data that is already available: this is the goal of the Orchidée network (Organization of a Network of Hospitals Involved in Epidemiological Surveillance and Emergency Response), coordinated by Santé publique France and co-funded by the European Commission.

This network aims to strengthen hospital-based epidemiological surveillance by tracking the progression of diseases in hospitals, whether infectious or not. By gaining a comprehensive view of the health situation in hospitals, it becomes possible to better assess the scope and severity of diseases and epidemics, as well as their impact on hospital capacity.

Orchidée, which continues to develop and expand, now includes nearly 80% of the university hospitals (CHUs) in France.

The first indicators related to severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) will gradually be made available as open data, starting this fall.

An innovative and robust system that strengthens France’s hospital surveillance system

The Orchidée network complements Santé publique France’s hospital surveillance system—which currently relies on data from emergency departments—by extending it to general hospital admissions and intensive care units. In practical terms, this new surveillance network enables Santé publique France to identify the proportion of patients hospitalized for the treatment of a range of conditions. It provides indicators that better characterize the frequency and severity of infectious and non-infectious diseases among hospitalized patients.

The conditions initially targeted are as follows: acute respiratory infections, healthcare-associated infections, severe bacterial infections, antibiotic resistance, arbovirus infections, and trauma. The approach will then be expanded to other public health issues. This new surveillance system also offers the opportunity to better prepare for and respond to future public health emergencies, particularly the emergence of new viruses likely to have a significant impact on hospitalizations, intensive care admissions, or mortality.

“In France, we have a reliable and very broad multi-source surveillance system: the system for notifiable diseases, emergency departments, primary care, medical and social care facilities or services, biological data, virological data
, wastewater surveillance, and more. However, outside of emergency departments, there was no data collection that provided us with a comprehensive view of hospital care. It was with this in mind that the Orchidée project was created; this data will allow us to determine and report in real time the proportion of people currently hospitalized for influenza, COVID-19, bronchiolitis, or other conditions… among all patients hospitalized in a facility.”
Dr. Etienne Pot, Acting Director General of Santé publique France

26 university hospitals participating in the network, located throughout mainland France and the French West Indies

The Orchidée project is supported by a consortium coordinated by Santé publique France, bringing together 26 University Teaching Hospitals (CHUs)¹, the Health Data Platform (PDS), the Bordeaux Population Health Research Center (University of Bordeaux/Inserm), and the School of Advanced Studies in Public Health (EHESP).
In just two years, the partners have built and structured a network of hospital data warehouses, enabling institutions to contribute to innovative epidemiological surveillance. This structure allows them to produce harmonized and robust indicators in near real time, using methods developed collectively.

“In just two years, the Orchidée partners have overcome significant scientific, organizational, and governance challenges: unifying the data warehouses of 26 university hospitals under a common framework to build a new national system for hospital epidemiological surveillance.”
Geneviève Chêne, professor of public health at the University of Bordeaux and Bordeaux University Hospital and head of Orchidée’s scientific work package.

With nearly 80% of French university hospitals now part of the network, Orchidée aims to continue expanding by welcoming other hospitals to provide increasingly representative surveillance.

Starting in the 2026–2027 season, the first indicators on severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs) will be available

Integrated surveillance of influenza, COVID-19, and bronchiolitis is a key priority—highlighted by the ECDC and the WHO—for better understanding the dynamics and severity of respiratory disease outbreaks, as well as their impact on hospitals. The Orchidée network directly addresses this need.

The first epidemiological indicators related to these conditions are already being transmitted to Santé publique France, which is responsible for centralizing, compiling, and interpreting them.
Indicators from the Orchidée network will gradually be made available on Odissé, Santé publique France’s open data portal, starting this fall.

1- 26 CHU : Amiens, Angers, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Besançon, Bordeaux, Brest, Caen Normandie, Dijon, Grenoble, Guadeloupe, Lille, Limoges, Lyon, Martinique, Metz-Thionville, Montpellier, Nantes, Nancy, Nice, Poitiers, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Tours.

9 September 2026

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