Surveillance of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) and Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) in Settings for the Elderly or Frail

Older adults, particularly those living in group settings, are vulnerable to infections due to frailty and susceptibility factors—whether general or local—that are specific to older adults or related to the facility. Because of the characteristics of this population, outbreaks of AGE and ARI are frequent and characterized by high morbidity with a significant incidence rate.The reporting system for clusters of ARI cases was established in 2005 in response to a request from the Ministry of Health asking the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS) to develop a system for reporting sentinel events in residential care facilities for dependent elderly individuals (EHPAD). Clustered cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) and nosocomial infections were then selected as the two priority events for the implementation of this reporting system.

The primary objective of reporting these events and issuing recommendations for their prevention is to reduce morbidity and mortality through the early identification of outbreaks and the prompt implementation of appropriate control measures.

In Poitou-Charentes, since the resumption of winter surveillance on October 1, 2013, 14 episodes (9 GEA and 5 IRA) have been reported to the CVAGS.