Teleclinical Microbiology: An Innovative Approach to Providing Web-Enabled Diagnostic Laboratory Services in Syria
Karah, Nabil; Antypas, Konstantinos; Al-Toutanji, Anas; Suveyd, Usama; Rafei, Rayane; Haraoui, Louis-Patrick; Elamin, Wael; Hamze, Monzer; Abbara, Aula; Rhoads, Daniel D.; Pantanowitz, Liron; Uhlin, Bernt Eric
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3055541Utgivelsesdato
2022Metadata
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- Publikasjoner fra CRIStin - SINTEF AS [5801]
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Originalversjon
American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2022, 157 (4), 554-560. 10.1093/ajcp/aqab160Sammendrag
Objectives: Telemedicine can compensate for the lack of health care specialists in response to protracted humanitarian crises. We sought to assess the usability of a teleclinical microbiology (TCM) program to provide diagnostic services in a hard-to-reach region of Syria.
Methods: A semimobile station was equipped with conventional micrograph and macrograph digital imaging systems. An electronic platform (Telemicrobiology in Humanitarian Crises, TmHC) was created to facilitate sharing, interpreting, and storing the results. A pilot study was conducted to identify the bacterial species and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of 74 urinary clinical isolates. An experience survey was conducted to capture the feedback of 8 participants in the program.
Results: The TmHC platform (https://sdh.ngo/tmhc/) enabled systematic transmission of the laboratory records and co-interpretation of the results. The isolates were identified as Escherichia coli (n = 61), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 12), and Proteus mirabilis(n = 1). All the isolates were multidrug resistant. The performance of our TCM module was rated 4 (satisfying) and 5 (very satisfying) by 6 and 2 users, respectively. Data security of and cost-effectiveness were the main perceived concerns.
Conclusions: Although we encountered several context-related obstacles, our TCM program managed to reach a highly vulnerable population of 4 million people confined in the northwest region of Syria.