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Document 32018D0945

    Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/945 of 22 June 2018 on the communicable diseases and related special health issues to be covered by epidemiological surveillance as well as relevant case definitions (Text with EEA relevance.)

    C/2018/3868

    OJ L 170, 6.7.2018, p. 1–74 (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

    Legal status of the document In force

    ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2018/945/oj

    6.7.2018   

    EN

    Official Journal of the European Union

    L 170/1


    COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2018/945

    of 22 June 2018

    on the communicable diseases and related special health issues to be covered by epidemiological surveillance as well as relevant case definitions

    (Text with EEA relevance)

    THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

    Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

    Having regard to Decision No 1082/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2013 on serious cross-border threats to health and repealing Decision No 2119/98/EC (1), and in particular Article 6(5)(a) and (b) thereof,

    Whereas:

    (1)

    Pursuant to Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), Commission Decision 2000/96/EC (3) established a list of communicable diseases and special health issues to be covered by epidemiological surveillance in the Community network.

    (2)

    Commission Decision 2002/253/EC (4) laid down case definitions for reporting communicable diseases listed in Decision 2000/96/EC to the Community network.

    (3)

    The Annex to Decision No 1082/2013/EU sets out the criteria for selecting the communicable diseases and related special health issues to be covered by epidemiological surveillance within the network.

    (4)

    The list of diseases and related special health issues established by Decision 2000/96/EC should be updated to reflect changes in disease incidence and prevalence, the needs of the European Union and its Member States, as well as to ensure compliance with the criteria provided in the Annex to Decision No 1082/2013/EU.

    (5)

    The list of case definitions should be updated in the light of new scientific information and evolving laboratory diagnostic criteria and practices.

    (6)

    Both the list of diseases and the list of case definitions are brought into line with the World Health Organisation nomenclature according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10).

    (7)

    The updated list of diseases should cover the following communicable diseases threatening public health that have emerged or re-emerged more recently in accordance with the criteria provided in the Annex to Decision No 1082/2013/EU for selection of communicable diseases and related special health issues to be covered by epidemiological surveillance:

    Chikungunya: In view of autochthonous outbreaks of chikungunya virus infections in Italy (2007) and France (2010 and 2014), the widespread presence of competent vectors (Aedes albopictus) in the Mediterranean basin, and the return of travellers from endemic areas, systematic surveillance is necessary to prevent the spread of chikungunya virus in the Union,

    Dengue: The large dengue outbreak in Madeira in 2012 and the presence of competent vectors (Aedes mosquitos), in particular in Mediterranean Member States, highlight the need for additional surveillance to help prevent the spread of the dengue virus in the Union,

    Zika: The infection of pregnant women with the Zika virus can lead to the birth of children with severe neurological defects. Early detection and surveillance of people returning from affected areas are crucial. Surveillance data is needed to inform public health measures to prevent the introduction and spread of the Zika virus to the Union,

    Lyme neuroborreliosis: The transmission of Lyme neuroborreliosis, a complication of Lyme disease which is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, is a concern for the Union. Systematic surveillance is needed to monitor its epidemiology in order to support measures to prevent and control the disease and its complications.

    (8)

    Pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (‘ECDC’) has, at the Commission's request, provided scientific assistance on the establishment of case definitions for Chikungunya, Dengue, Lyme neuroborreliosis and Zika infections on the revision of case definitions for a number of other diseases (6), as well as on the revision of case definitions related to certain healthcare associated infections and to antimicrobial resistance (7). The case definitions should therefore be amended accordingly.

    (9)

    The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on serious cross-border threats to health established under Article 18 of Decision No 1082/2013/EU.

    (10)

    Accordingly, Decisions 2000/96/EC and 2002/253/EC should be replaced by this Decision,

    HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

    Article 1

    The communicable diseases and related special health issues to be covered by the epidemiological surveillance network are listed in Annex I.

    Article 2

    For the purposes of submitting data for the epidemiological surveillance of the communicable diseases and related special health issues listed in Annex I, Member States shall apply the case definitions specified in Annex II.

    Article 3

    Decisions 2000/96/EC and 2002/253/EC are hereby repealed. References to those Decisions shall be construed as references to this Decision.

    Article 4

    This Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

    Done at Brussels, 22 June 2018.

    For the Commission

    The President

    Jean-Claude JUNCKER


    (1)   OJ L 293, 5.11.2013, p. 1.

    (2)  Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community (OJ L 268, 3.10.1998, p. 1).

    (3)  Commission Decision 2000/96/EC of 22 December 1999 on the communicable diseases to be progressively covered by the Community network under Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 28, 3.2.2000, p. 50).

    (4)  Commission Decision 2002/253/EC of 19 March 2002 laying down case definitions for reporting communicable diseases to the Community network under Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 86, 3.4.2002, p. 44).

    (5)  Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 establishing a European Centre for disease prevention and control (OJ L 142, 30.4.2004, p. 1).

    (6)  Botulism, brucellosis, campylobacter enteritis, giardiasis, gonococcal infection, listeriosis, rubella, salmonella enteritis, shiga toxin/verocytotoxin-producing E. coli infection, shigellosis, syphilis and congenital syphilis, tetanus, tuberculosis, typhoid and paratyphoid fevers, pertussis, enteritis due to Yersinia enterocolitica or Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and healthcare-associated infections.

    (7)  In general and, more specifically, campylobacter enteritis, gonococcal infection, salmonella enteritis, shigellosis, tuberculosis and bloodstream infections due to specific pathogens, in particular Staphylococcus aureus (susceptibility to meticillin and other anti-staphylococcal beta-lactams), Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis (susceptibility to glycopeptides), Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli (susceptibility to carbapenems and to colistin in carbapenem-resistant isolates), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species (susceptibility to carbapenems).


    ANNEX I

    Communicable diseases and related special health issues to be covered by the epidemiological surveillance network

    1.   DISEASES

     

    Anthrax

     

    Botulism

     

    Brucellosis

     

    Campylobacter enteritis

     

    Chikungunya virus disease

     

    Chlamydial infection, including Chlamydial lymphogranuloma (venereum) (LGV)

     

    Cholera

     

    Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

     

    Cryptosporidiosis

     

    Dengue

     

    Diphtheria

     

    Echinococcosis

     

    Giardiasis (lambliasis)

     

    Gonococcal infection

     

    Haemophilus influenzae infection, invasive disease

     

    Acute hepatitis A

     

    Hepatitis B

     

    Hepatitis C

     

    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

     

    Influenza

     

    Influenza A/H5N1

     

    Legionnaires' disease

     

    Leptospirosis

     

    Listeriosis

     

    Lyme neuroborreliosis

     

    Malaria

     

    Measles

     

    Meningococcal infection, invasive disease

     

    Mumps

     

    Pertussis

     

    Plague

     

    Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, invasive disease

     

    Acute poliomyelitis

     

    Q fever

     

    Rabies

     

    Rubella

     

    Congenital rubella syndrome

     

    Salmonella enteritis

     

    Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

     

    Shiga toxin/verocytotoxin-producing E. coli infection (STEC/VTEC), including Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS)

     

    Shigellosis

     

    Smallpox

     

    Syphilis

     

    Congenital syphilis

     

    Tetanus

     

    Tick-borne viral encephalitis

     

    Congenital toxoplasmosis

     

    Trichinellosis

     

    Tuberculosis

     

    Tularaemia

     

    Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers

     

    Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF)

     

    West Nile virus infection

     

    Yellow fever

     

    Enteritis due to Yersinia enterocolitica or Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

     

    Zika virus disease

     

    Congenital Zika virus disease

    2.   SPECIAL HEALTH ISSUES

    2.1.

    Nosocomial infections

    2.2.

    Antimicrobial resistance


    ANNEX II

    1.   EXPLANATION OF THE SECTIONS USED IN THE DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF CASES

    CLINICAL CRITERIA

    Clinical criteria include common and relevant signs and symptoms of the disease which either individually or in combination constitutes a clear or indicative clinical picture of the disease. They give the general outline of the disease and do not necessarily indicate all the features needed for individual clinical diagnosis.

    LABORATORY CRITERIA

    Laboratory criteria are a list of laboratory methods that are used to confirm a case. Usually only one of the listed tests will be enough to confirm the case. If a combination of methods is needed to meet the laboratory confirmation, this is specified. The type of specimen to be collected for the laboratory tests is only specified when only certain specimen types are considered relevant for the confirmation of a diagnosis. Laboratory criteria for a probable case are included for some agreed exceptional cases. Those laboratory criteria consist of a list of laboratory methods which can be used to support the diagnosis of a case but which are not confirmatory.

    EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CRITERIA AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL LINK

    Epidemiological criteria are deemed to have been met when an epidemiological link can be established.

    Epidemiological link, during the incubation period, means one of the following six:

    —   Human to human transmission: the fact that a person has had contact with a laboratory confirmed human case in such a way as to have had the opportunity to acquire the infection;

    —   Animal to human transmission: the fact that a person has had contact with an animal with a laboratory confirmed infection/colonization in such a way as to have had the opportunity to acquire the infection;

    —   Exposure to a common source: the fact that a person has been exposed to the same common source or vehicle of infection, as a confirmed human case;

    —   Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water: the fact that a person has consumed food or drinking water with a laboratory confirmed contamination or has consumed potentially contaminated products from an animal with a laboratory confirmed infection/colonization;

    —   Environmental exposure: the fact that a person has bathed in water or has had contact with a contaminated environmental source that has been laboratory confirmed;

    —   Laboratory exposure: the fact that a person has worked in a laboratory where there is a potential for exposure.

    A person may be considered epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case if at least one case in the chain of transmission is laboratory confirmed. In case of an outbreak of faeco-oral or airborne transmitted infections, the chain of transmission does not necessarily need to be established to consider a case epidemiologically linked.

    Transmission may occur by one or more of the following routes:

    Airborne: by projection of aerosol from an infected person onto the mucous membranes while coughing, spitting, singing or talking, or when microbial aerosols dispersed into the atmosphere are inhaled by others;

    Contact: direct contact with an infected person (faecal-oral, respiratory droplets, skin or sexual exposure) or animal (for example, biting, touching) or indirect contact to infected materials or objects (infected fomites, body fluids, blood);

    Vertical: from mother to child, often in utero, or as a result of the incidental exchange of body fluids usually during the perinatal period;

    Vector transmission: transmission by infected mosquitoes, ticks, mites, flies and other insects which transmit disease to humans through their bites;

    Food or water: consumption of potentially contaminated food or drinking water.

    CASE CLASSIFICATION

    Cases are classified as ‘possible’, ‘probable’ and ‘confirmed’. The incubation periods for diseases are given in the additional information to facilitate the assessment of the epidemiological link.

    POSSIBLE CASE

    A possible case means a case classified as possible for reporting purposes. It is usually a case meeting the clinical criteria as described in the case definition without epidemiological or laboratory evidence of the disease in question. The definition of a case as possible has high sensitivity and low specificity. It allows for detection of most cases but some false positives cases will be included into this category.

    PROBABLE CASE

    A probable case means a case classified as probable for reporting purposes. It is usually a case with clinical criteria and an epidemiological link as described in the case definition. Laboratory tests for probable cases are specified only for some diseases.

    CONFIRMED CASE

    A confirmed case means a case classified as confirmed for reporting purposes. Confirmed cases are laboratory confirmed and may or may not fulfil the clinical criteria as described in the case definition. The definition of a case as confirmed is highly specific and less sensitive; therefore most of the collected cases will be true cases although some will be missed.

    The clinical criteria of some diseases do not allude to the fact that many acute cases are asymptomatic (for example, hepatitis A, B and C, campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis) although these cases may still be important from a public health perspective on national level.

    Confirmed cases fall in one of the three subcategories listed below. They will be assigned to one of those subcategories during the analysis of data using the variables collected within the context of the case information.

    LABORATORY-CONFIRMED CASE WITH CLINICAL CRITERIA

    The case meets the laboratory criteria for case confirmation and the clinical criteria included in the case definition.

    LABORATORY-CONFIRMED CASE WITH UNKNOWN CLINICAL CRITERIA

    The case meets the laboratory criteria for case confirmation but there is no information available regarding the clinical criteria (for example,only laboratory report).

    LABORATORY-CONFIRMED CASE WITHOUT CLINICAL CRITERIA

    The case meets the laboratory criteria for case confirmation but doesn't meet the clinical criteria in the case definition or is asymptomatic.

    Note: For some of the conditions under surveillance the structure of the case definitions does not follow the typical structure of the case definition such as in the cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.

    2.   ABBREVIATION LIST

    1.   AFP: acute flaccid paralysis

    2.   AIDS: acquired immune deficiency syndrome

    3.   AMR: antimicrobial resistance

    4.   Anti-HBc: hepatitis B core antibody

    5.   anti-HCV: hepatitis C virus specific antibody

    6.   ARI: acute respiratory infection

    7.   BAL: broncho-alveolar lavage

    8.   BCG: Bacille de Calmette et Guérin

    9.   BJ: bone and joint infection

    10.   BJ-BONE: osteomyelitis

    11.   BJ-DISC: disc space infection

    12.   BJ-JNT: joint or bursa infection

    13.   BoNT: botulinum neurotoxin

    14.   BSI: bloodstream infection

    15.   C-CVC: catheter-related — central venous catheter

    16.   CDAD: Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea

    17.   CFU: colony-forming unit

    18.   CJD: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

    19.   CMV: cytomegalovirus

    20.   CNRL: EU Community Network of Reference Laboratories for human influenza

    21.   CNS: central nervous system

    22.   CNS-IC: central nervous system infection — intracranial infection

    23.   CNS-MEN: central nervous system infection — meningitis or ventriculitis

    24.   CNS-SA: central nervous system infection — spinal abscess without meningitis

    25.   C-PVC: catheter-related — peripheral venous catheter

    26.   CRI: catheter-related infection

    27.   CRS: Congenital rubella syndrome

    28.   CRT: capillary refilling time

    29.   CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid

    30.   CT scan: computed tomography scan

    31.   CVS: cardiovascular system infection

    32.   CVS-CARD: cardiovascular system infection — myocarditis or pericarditis

    33.   CVS-ENDO: cardiovascular system infection — endocarditis

    34.   CVS-MED: cardiovascular system infection — mediastinitis

    35.   CVS-VASC: cardiovascular system infection — arterial or venous infection

    36.   DFA: direct fluorescent antibody

    37.   DFA-TP: direct fluorescent antibody test for Treponema pallidum

    38.   DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid

    39.   DPA: distal protected aspirate

    40.   EARS-Net: European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network

    41.   ECDC: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

    42.   ECOFFs: epidemiological cut-off values

    43.   EEG: electroencephalography

    44.   EENT: eye, ear, nose, throat, or mouth infection

    45.   EENT-CONJ: eye, ear, nose, throat, or mouth infection — conjunctivitis

    46.   EENT-EAR: eye, ear, nose, throat, or mouth infection — ear mastoid

    47.   EENT-EYE: eye, ear, nose, throat, or mouth infection — eye, other than conjunctivitis

    48.   EENT-ORAL: eye, ear, nose, throat, or mouth infection — oral cavity (mouth, tongue, or gums)

    49.   EENT-SINU: eye, ear, nose, throat, or mouth infection — sinusitis

    50.   EENT-UR: eye, ear, nose, throat, or mouth infection — upper respiratory tract, pharyngitis, laryngitis, epiglottitis

    51.   EFNS: European Federation of Neurological Societies

    52.   EIA: enzyme immunoassay

    53.   ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

    54.   EM: electron microscopy

    55.   EUCAST: European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

    56.   FAMA: fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen

    57.   FTA-abs: fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption

    58.   FUO: fever of unknown origin

    59.   GI: gastrointestinal system infection

    60.   GI-CDI: gastrointestinal system infection — Clostridium difficile infection

    61.   GI-GE: gastrointestinal system infection — gastroenteritis (excl. CDI)

    62.   GI-GIT: gastrointestinal system infection — gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, small and large bowel, and rectum) excluding gastroenteritis and appendicitis

    63.   GI-HEP: gastrointestinal system infection — hepatitis

    64.   GI-IAB: gastrointestinal system infection — intraabdominal, not specified elsewhere including gallbladder, bile ducts, liver (excluding viral hepatitis), spleen, pancreas, peritoneum, subphrenic or subdiaphragmatic space, or other intraabdominal tissue or area not specified elsewhere

    65.   HAI: healthcare-associated infections

    66.   HbeAg: hepatitis B e antigen

    67.   HbsAg: hepatitis B surface antigen

    68.   HBV-DNA: hepatitis B nucleic acid

    69.   HCV-core: hepatitis C virus core antigen

    70.   HCV-RNA: hepatitis C virus nucleic acid

    71.   HIV: human immunodeficiency virus

    72.   HUS: haemolytic-uraemic syndrome

    73.   IAP: intubation-associated pneumonia

    74.   IFA: indirect fluorescent antibody

    75.   IgG: immunoglobulin G

    76.   IgM: immunoglobulin M

    77.   ILI: influenza-like illness

    78.   LGV: lymphogranuloma (venereum)

    79.   LPS: lipopolysaccharides

    80.   LRI: lower respiratory tract infection, other than pneumonia

    81.   LRI-BRON: lower respiratory tract infection — bronchitis, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, tracheitis, without evidence of pneumonia

    82.   TBE: Tick-borne encephalitis

    3.   CASE DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

    3.1.   ANTHRAX

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following clinical forms:

     

    Cutaneous anthrax

    At least one the following two:

    Papular or vesicular lesion;

    Depressed black eschar with surrounding oedema.

     

    Gastrointestinal anthrax

    Fever or feverishness;

    AND at least one of the following two:

    Severe abdominal pain;

    Diarrhoea.

     

    Inhalational anthrax

    Fever or feverishness;

    AND at least one of the following two:

    Acute respiratory distress;

    Radiological evidence of mediastinal widening.

     

    Meningeal/meningoencephalitic anthrax

    Fever;

    AND at least one of the following three:

    Convulsions;

    Loss of consciousness;

    Meningeal signs.

     

    Anthrax septicaemia

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of Bacillus anthracis from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Bacillus anthracis nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Positive nasal swab without clinical symptoms does not contribute to a confirmed diagnosis of a case.

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following three epidemiological links:

    Animal to human transmission;

    Exposure to a common source;

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water.

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.2.   BOTULISM

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following clinical forms:

     

    Food-borne and wound botulism

    At least one of the following two:

    Bilateral cranial nerve impairment (for example, diplopia, blurred vision, dysphagia, bulbar weakness);

    Peripheral symmetric paralysis.

     

    Infant botulism

    Any infant with at least one of the following six:

    Constipation;

    Lethargy;

    Difficulty in sucking or feeding;

    Ptosis;

    Dysphagia;

    General muscle weakness.

    The type of botulism usually encountered in infants (< 12 months of age) can affect children also over 12 months of age and occasionally adults, with altered gastrointestinal anatomy and microflora

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of BoNT-producing clostridia (for example, Clostridium botulinum, C. baratii, C. butyricum) for infant botulism (stool) or wound botulism (wound);

    Detection of botulinum neurotoxins in a clinical specimen;

    Detection of genes encoding for botulinum neurotoxins in a clinical specimen.

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following two epidemiological links:

    Exposure to a common source (for example, food, sharing of needles or other devices);

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    3.3.   BRUCELLOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with fever

    And at least one of the following seven:

    Sweating (profuse, malodorous, specially nocturnal);

    Chills;

    Arthralgia;

    Weakness;

    Depression;

    Headache;

    Anorexia.

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of human pathogenic Brucella spp. from a clinical specimen;

    Human pathogenic Brucella specific antibody response (Standard Agglutination Test, Complement Fixation, ELISA);

    Detection of human pathogenic Brucella spp. nucleic acid in a clinical specimen.

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following five epidemiological links:

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water;

    Exposure to products from a contaminated animal (milk or milk products);

    Animal to human transmission (contaminated secretions or organs for example, vaginal discharge, placenta);

    Exposure to a common source;

    Laboratory exposure.

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.4.   CAMPYLOBACTER ENTERITIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following three:

    Diarrhoea;

    Abdominal pain;

    Fever.

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of human pathogenic Campylobacter spp. from a clinical specimen;

    Detection of Campylobacter spp. nucleic acid in a clinical specimen.

    Note: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Campylobacter spp. should be performed on a representative subset of isolates

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following five epidemiological links:

    Animal to human transmission;

    Human to human transmission;

    Exposure to a common source;

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water;

    Environmental exposure.

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    Antimicrobial resistance

    The results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests must be reported according to the methods and criteria agreed between ECDC and Member States as specified in the EU protocol for harmonised monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in human Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates (1).

    3.5.   CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS DISEASE

    Clinical Criteria  (2)

    Fever

    Laboratory Criteria  (3)

    A.   Probable case

    Detection of chikungunya specific IgM antibodies in a single serum sample.

    B.   Confirmed case

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation of chikungunya virus from a clinical specimen;

    Detection of chikungunya viral nucleic acid from a clinical specimen;

    Detection of chikungunya specific IgM antibodies in a single serum sample AND confirmation by neutralisation;

    Seroconversion or four-fold antibody titre increase of chikungunya specific antibodies in paired serum samples.

    Epidemiological Criteria

    History of travel to, or residence in an area with documented on-going transmission of chikungunya, within the two-week period prior to the onset of symptoms

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the epidemiological criteria, and the laboratory criteria for a probable case

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria for a confirmed case

    Note: Serological results should be interpreted according to previous exposure to other flaviviral infections and the flavivirus vaccination status. Confirmed cases in such situations should be validated by serum neutralization assay or other equivalent assays.

    3.6.   CHLAMYDIAL INFECTION, INCLUDING CHLAMYDIAL LYMPHOGRANULOMA (VENEREUM) (LGV)

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following clinical forms:

     

    Chlamydial infection non-LGV

     

    At least one of the following six:

    Urethritis;

    Epididymitis;

    Acute salpingitis;

    Acute endometritis;

    Cervicitis;

    Proctitis.

     

    In newborn children at least one of the following two:

    Conjunctivitis;

    Pneumonia.

     

    LGV

    At least one of the following five:

    Urethritis;

    Genital ulcer;

    Inguinal lymphadenopathy;

    Cervicitis;

    Proctitis.

    Laboratory Criteria

    Chlamydial infection non-LGV

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from a specimen of the ano-genital tract or from the conjunctiva;

    Demonstration of Chlamydia trachomatis by DFA test in a clinical specimen;

    Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid in a clinical specimen.

    LGV

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from a specimen of the ano-genital tract or from the conjunctiva;

    Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid in a clinical specimen.

    AND

    Identification of serovar (genovar) L1, L2 or L3

    Epidemiological Criteria

    An epidemiological link by human to human transmission (sexual contact or vertical transmission)

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

    3.7.   CHOLERA

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following two:

    Diarrhoea;

    Vomiting.

    Laboratory Criteria

    Isolation of Vibrio cholerae from a clinical specimen

    AND

    Demonstration of O1 or O139 antigen in the isolate

    AND

    Demonstration of cholera-enterotoxin or the cholera-enterotoxin gene in the isolate

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following four epidemiological links:

    Exposure to a common source;

    Human to human transmission;

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water;

    Environmental exposure.

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria;

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.8.   CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE (CJD)

    Preconditions

    Any person with a progressive neuropsychiatric disorder with a duration of illness of at least 6 months

    Routine investigations do not suggest an alternative diagnosis

    No history of exposure to human pituitary hormones or human dura mater graft

    No evidence of a genetic form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least four of the following five:

    Early psychiatric symptoms (4);

    Persistent painful sensory symptoms (5);

    Ataxia;

    Myoclonus or chorea or dystonia;

    Dementia.

    Diagnostic Criteria

    Diagnostic criteria for case confirmation:

    Neuropathological confirmation: spongiform change and extensive prion protein deposition with florid plaques throughout the cerebrum and cerebellum

    Diagnostic criteria for a probable or a possible case:

    EEG does not show the typical appearance (6) of sporadic CJD (6) in the early stages of the illness;

    Bilateral pulvinar high signal on MRI brain scan;

    A positive tonsil biopsy (7).

    Epidemiological Criteria

    An epidemiological link by human to human transmission (for example, blood transfusion)

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person fulfilling the preconditions

    AND

    meeting the clinical criteria

    AND

    a negative EEG for sporadic CJD (6)

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person fulfilling the preconditions

    AND

    meeting the clinical criteria

    AND

    a negative EEG for sporadic CJD (8)

    AND

    a positive MRI brain scan

    OR

    Any person fulfilling the preconditions

    AND

    a positive tonsil biopsy

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person fulfilling the preconditions

    AND

    meeting the diagnostic criteria for case confirmation

    3.9.   CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following two:

    Diarrhoea;

    Abdominal pain.

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Demonstration of Cryptosporidium oocysts in stool;

    Demonstration of Cryptosporidium in intestinal fluid or small-bowel biopsy specimens;

    Detection of Cryptosporidium nucleic acid in stool;

    Detection of Cryptosporidium antigen in stool.

    Epidemiological Criteria

    One of the following five epidemiological links:

    Human to human transmission

    Exposure to a common source

    Animal to human transmission

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water

    Environmental exposure

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.10.   DENGUE

    Clinical Criteria  (9)

    Fever

    Laboratory Criteria  (10)

    A.   Probable case

    Detection of dengue specific IgM antibodies in a single serum sample

    B.   Confirmed case

    At least one of the following five:

    Isolation of a dengue virus from a clinical specimen;

    Detection of dengue viral nucleic acid from a clinical specimen;

    Detection of dengue viral antigen from a clinical specimen;

    Detection of dengue specific IgM antibodies in a single serum sample AND confirmation by neutralization;

    Seroconversion or four-fold antibody titre increase of dengue specific antibodies in paired serum samples

    Epidemiological Criteria

    History of travel to, or residence in an area with documented on-going transmission of dengue, within the two-week period prior to the onset of symptoms

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the epidemiological criteria, and the laboratory criteria for a probable case

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria for a confirmed case.

    3.11.   DIPHTHERIA

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following clinical forms:

     

    Classic Respiratory Diphtheria:

    An upper respiratory tract illness with laryngitis or nasopharyngitis or tonsillitis

    AND

    an adherent membrane/pseudomembrane

     

    Mild Respiratory Diphtheria:

    An upper respiratory tract illness with laryngitis or nasopharyngitis or tonsillitis

    WITHOUT

    an adherent membrane/pseudomembrane.

     

    Cutaneous Diphtheria:

    Skin lesion

     

    Diphtheria of other sites:

    Lesion of conjunctiva or mucous membranes

    Laboratory Criteria

    Isolation of toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Corynebacterium ulcerans or Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis from a clinical specimen.

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following epidemiological links:

    Human to human transmission

    Animal to human transmission

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria for classical respiratory diphtheria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria for diphtheria (Classic Respiratory Diphtheria, Mild Respiratory Diphtheria, Cutaneous Diphtheria, Diphtheria of other sites) with an epidemiological link to a human confirmed case or with an epidemiological link to animal to human transmission

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria AND at least one of the clinical forms

    3.12.   ECHINOCOCCOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Not relevant for surveillance purposes

    Diagnostic Criteria

    At least one of the following five:

    Histopathology or parasitology compatible with Echinococcus multilocularis or granulosus (for example, direct visualization of the protoscolex in cyst fluid)

    Detection of Echinoccocus granulosus pathognomonic macroscopic morphology of cyst(s) in surgical specimens

    Typical organ lesions detected by imaging techniques (for example, computerized tomography, sonography, MRI) AND confirmed by a serological test

    Echinococcus spp. specific serum antibodies by high-sensitivity serological test AND confirmed by a high specificity serological test

    Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis or granulosus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case NA

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the diagnostic criteria

    3.13.   GIARDIASIS (LAMBLIASIS)

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following four:

    Diarrhoea

    Abdominal pain

    Bloating

    Signs of malabsorption (for example, steatorrhoea, weight loss)

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Demonstration of Giardia lamblia cysts or trophozoites in stool, duodenal fluid or small-bowel biopsy

    Demonstration of Giardia lamblia antigen in stool, duodenal fluid or small-bowel biopsy

    Detection of Giardia lamblia nucleic acid in stool, duodenal fluid or small-bowel biopsy

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following four epidemiological links:

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water

    Human to human transmission

    Exposure to a common source

    Environmental exposure

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.14.   GONOCOCCAL INFECTION

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following eight:

    Urethritis

    Acute salpingitis

    Pelvic inflammatory disease

    Cervicitis

    Epididymitis

    Proctitis

    Pharyngitis

    Arthritis

    OR

    Any newborn child with conjunctivitis

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Demonstration of Neisseria gonorrhoeae by a non-amplified nucleic acid probe test in a clinical specimen

    Microscopic detection of intracellular Gram-negative diploccocci in an urethral male specimen

    Epidemiological Criteria

    An epidemiological link by human to human transmission (sexual contact or vertical transmission)

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

    Antimicrobial resistance

    For cases ascertained by culture, the results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests must be reported according to the methods and criteria agreed between ECDC and Member States as specified in the ECDC standard protocol for gonococcal antimicrobial resistance surveillance (11).

    3.15.   HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE INFECTION, INVASIVE DISEASE

    Clinical Criteria

    Not relevant for surveillance purposes

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of Haemophilus influenzae from a normally sterile site

    Detection of Haemophilus influenzae nucleic acid from a normally sterile site

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case NA

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

    3.16.   ACUTE HEPATITIS A

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with a discrete onset of symptoms (for example, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea and vomiting)

    AND

    At least one of the following three:

    Fever

    Jaundice

    Elevated serum aminotransferase levels

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Detection of hepatitis A virus nucleic acid in serum or stool

    Hepatitis A virus specific antibody response

    Detection of hepatitis A virus antigen in stool

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Human to human transmission

    Exposure to a common source

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water

    Environmental exposure

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.17.   HEPATITIS B (12)

    Clinical Criteria

    Not relevant for surveillance purposes

    Laboratory Criteria

    Positive results of at least one or more of the following tests or combination of tests:

    IgM hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc IgM)

    Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)

    Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)

    Hepatitis B nucleic acid (HBV-DNA)

    Epidemiological Criteria

    Not relevant for surveillance purposes

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case NA

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

    3.18.   HEPATITIS C (13)

    Clinical Criteria

    Not relevant for surveillance purposes

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Detection of hepatitis C virus nucleic acid (HCV RNA)

    Detection of hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCV-core)

    Hepatitis C virus specific antibody (anti-HCV) response confirmed by a confirmatory (for example, immunoblot) antibody test in persons older than 18 months without evidence of resolved infection)

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case NA

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

    3.19.   HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) INFECTION AND ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)

    Clinical Criteria (AIDS)

    Any person who has any of the clinical conditions as defined in the European AIDS case definition for:

    Adults and adolescents ≥ 15 years

    Children < 15 years of age

    Laboratory Criteria (HIV)

    Adults, adolescents and children aged ≥ 18 months

    At least one of the following three:

    Positive result of a HIV screening antibody test or a combined screening test (HIV antibody and HIV p24 antigen) confirmed by a more specific antibody test (for example, Western blot);

    Positive result of 2 EIA antibody test confirmed by a positive result of a further EIA test;

    Positive results on two separate specimens from at least one of the following three:

    Detection of HIV nucleic acid (HIV-RNA, HIV-DNA);

    Demonstration of HIV by HIV p24 antigen test, including neutralisation assay;

    Isolation of HIV.

    Children aged < 18 months

    Positive results on two separate specimens (excluding cord blood) from at least one of the following three:

    Isolation of HIV;

    Detection of HIV nucleic acid (HIV-RNA, HIV-DNA);

    Demonstration of HIV by HIV p24 antigen test, including neutralisation assay in a child ≥ 1 month of age.

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case NA

    C.

    Confirmed case

    HIV infection:

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria for HIV infection.

    AIDS:

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria for AIDS and the laboratory criteria for HIV infection.

    3.20.   INFLUENZA

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following clinical forms:

     

    Influenza-like illness (ILI)

    Sudden onset of symptoms

    AND

    at least one of the following four systemic symptoms:

    Fever or feverishness

    Malaise

    Headache

    Myalgia

    AND

    At least one of the following three respiratory symptoms:

    Cough

    Sore throat

    Shortness of breath

     

    Acute respiratory infection (ARI)

    Sudden onset of symptoms

    AND

    At least one of the following four respiratory symptoms:

    Cough

    Sore throat

    Shortness of breath

    Coryza

    AND

    A clinician's judgement that the illness is due to an infection

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one the following four:

    Isolation of influenza virus from a clinical specimen

    Detection of influenza virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Identification of influenza virus antigen by DFA test in a clinical specimen

    Influenza specific antibody response

    Sub typing of the influenza isolate should be performed, if possible

    Epidemiological Criteria

    An epidemiological link by human to human transmission

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria (ILI or ARI)

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria (ILI or ARI) with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical (ILI or ARI) and the laboratory criteria

    3.21.   INFLUENZA A/H5N1

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with one of the following two:

    Fever AND signs and symptoms of acute respiratory infection;

    Death from an unexplained acute respiratory illness.

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of influenza A/H5N1 from a clinical specimen;

    Detection of influenza A/H5 nucleic acid in a clinical specimen;

    Influenza A/H5 specific antibody response (four-fold or greater rise or single high titre).

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Human to human transmission by having been in close contact (within 1 metre) to a person reported as probable or confirmed case;

    Laboratory exposure: where there is a potential exposure to influenza A/H5N1;

    Close contact (within 1 metre) with an animal with confirmed A/H5N1 infection other than poultry or wild birds (for example, cat or pig);

    Reside in or have visited an area where influenza A/H5N1 is currently suspected or confirmed AND at least one of the following two:

    Having been in close contact (within 1 metre) with sick or dead domestic poultry or wild birds in the affected area;

    Having been in a home or a farm where sick or dead domestic poultry have been reported in the previous month in the affected area.

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the epidemiological criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person with a positive test for influenza A/H5 or A/H5N1 performed by a laboratory which is not a National Reference Laboratory participating in the EU Community Network of Reference Laboratories for human influenza (CNRL)

    C.

    Nationally confirmed case

    Any person with a positive test for influenza A/H5 or A/H5N1 performed by a National Reference Laboratory participating in the EU Community Network of Reference Laboratories for human influenza (CNRL)

    D.

    WHO confirmed case

    Any person with a laboratory confirmation by a WHO Collaborating Centre for H5

    3.22.   LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with pneumonia

    Laboratory Criteria

    Laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of Legionella spp. from respiratory secretions or any normally sterile site

    Detection of Legionella pneumophila antigen in urine

    Significant rise in specific antibody level to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in paired serum samples

    Laboratory criteria for a probable case

    At least one of the following four:

    Detection of Legionella pneumophila antigen in respiratory secretions or lung tissue for example, by DFA staining using monoclonal-antibody derived reagents

    Detection of Legionella spp. nucleic acid in respiratory secretions, lung tissue or any normally sterile site

    Significant rise in specific antibody level to Legionella pneumophila other than serogroup 1 or other Legionella spp. in paired serum samples

    Single high level of specific antibody to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in serum

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criterion AND at least one laboratory criterion for a probable case

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical criterion AND at least one laboratory criterion for a confirmed case

    3.23.   LEPTOSPIROSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with

    Fever

    OR

    At least two of the following eleven:

    Chills

    Headache

    Myalgia

    Conjunctival suffusion

    Haemorrhages into skin and mucous membranes

    Rash

    Jaundice

    Myocarditis

    Meningitis

    Renal impairment

    Respiratory symptoms such as haemoptysis

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation of Leptospira interrogans or any other pathogenic Leptospira spp. from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Leptospira interrogans or any other pathogenic Leptospira spp. nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Demonstration of Leptospira interrogans or any other pathogenic Leptospira spp. by immunofluorescence in a clinical specimen

    Leptospira interrogans or any other pathogenic Leptospira spp. specific antibody response

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following three epidemiological links:

    Animal to human transmission

    Environmental exposure

    Exposure to a common source

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.24.   LISTERIOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following five:

    Fever

    Meningitis, meningoencephalitis, or encephalitis

    Influenza-like symptoms

    Septicaemia

    Localized infections such as arthritis, endocarditis, endophthalmitis, and abscesses

    Listeriosis in pregnancy:

    Pregnancy-related consequences of Listeria infection defined as: miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth during the pregnancy

    Listeriosis of newborns defined as one of the following

    Stillbirth (fetal death after 20 weeks of gestation)

    Premature birth (before 37 gestational weeks)

    OR

    At least one of the following five in the first month of life (neonatal listeriosis):

    Meningitis or meningoencephalitis

    Septicaemia

    Dyspnoea

    Granulomatosis infantiseptica

    Lesions on skin, mucosal membranes or conjunctivae

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes or detection of nucleic acid of Listeria monocytogenes from a normally sterile site

    In a pregnancy-associated case also: Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes or detection of nucleic acid from Listeria monocytogenes in a normally non-sterile site (for example, placental tissue, amniotic fluid, meconium, vaginal swab) or from a foetus, stillborn, newborn or the mother

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following four epidemiological links:

    Exposure to a common source

    Human to human transmission (vertical transmission)

    Exposure to contaminated food

    Animal to human transmission

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria for a normal sterile site

    OR

    In a pregnancy-associated case (mother or newborn in the first month of life) meeting the laboratory criteria, only the mother is to be reported as a case.

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.25.   LYME NEUROBORRELIOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Neurological symptoms according to European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) suggested case definition (14), without other obvious reasons

    Laboratory Criteria

    A.   Confirmed case

    Pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid, AND

    Evidence of intrathecal production of Lyme borreliosis antibodies, OR

    Borrelia burdgorferi s.l. isolation, OR

    nucleic acid detection in cerebrospinal fluid

    OR

    Detection of IgG Lyme borreliosis antibodies in blood specimen only for children (age under 18) with facial palsy or other cranial neuritis and a recent (< 2 months) history of erythema migrans

    B.   Probable case

    Pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid AND positive Lyme borreliosis serology in cerebrospinal fluid

    OR

    Specific intrathecal Lyme borreliosis antibody production

    Epidemiological Criteria

    Not applicable

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Not applicable

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria and at least one of the laboratory criteria for probable cases

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria and at least one of the laboratory criteria for confirmed cases

    3.26.   MALARIA

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with fever OR a history of fever

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Demonstration of malaria parasites by light microscopy in blood films

    Detection of Plasmodium nucleic acid in blood

    Detection of Plasmodium antigen

    Differentiation of Plasmodium spp. should be performed if possible

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case NA

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.27.   MEASLES

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with fever

    AND

    Maculo-papular rash

    AND at least one of the following three:

    Cough

    Coryza

    Conjunctivitis

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation of measles virus from a clinical specimen

    Detection of measles virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Measles virus specific antibody response characteristic for acute infection in serum or saliva

    Detection of measles virus antigen by DFA in a clinical specimen using measles specific monoclonal antibodies

    Laboratory results need to be interpreted according to the vaccination status. If recently vaccinated, investigate for wild virus

    Epidemiological criteria

    An epidemiological link by human to human transmission

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person not recently vaccinated and meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    3.28.   MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION, INVASIVE DISEASE

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following symptoms:

    Meningeal signs

    Haemorrhagic rash

    Septic shock

    Septic arthritis

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis from a normally sterile site, or from purpuric skin lesions

    Detection of Neisseria meningitidis nucleic acid from a normally sterile site, or from purpuric skin lesions

    Detection of Neisseria meningitidis antigen in CSF

    Detection of Gram-negative stained diplococcus in CSF

    Epidemiological Criteria

    An epidemiological link by human to human transmission

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

    3.29.   MUMPS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with

    Fever

    AND

    At least one of the following three:

    Sudden onset of unilateral or bilateral tender swelling of the parotid or other salivary glands without other apparent cause

    Orchitis

    Meningitis

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of mumps virus from a clinical specimen

    Detection of mumps virus nucleic acid

    Mumps virus specific antibody response characteristic for acute infection in serum or Saliva

    Laboratory results need to be interpreted according to the vaccination status

    Epidemiological Criteria

    An epidemiological link by human to human transmission

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person not recently vaccinated and meeting the laboratory criteria

    In case of recent vaccination: any person with detection of wild-type mumps virus strain

    3.30.   PERTUSSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with a cough lasting at least two weeks AND

    at least one of the following three:

    Paroxysms of coughing

    Inspiratory ‘whooping’

    Post-tussive vomiting

    OR

    Any person diagnosed as pertussis by a physician

    OR

    Apnoeic episodes in infants

    Notes:

    All individuals including adults, adolescents or vaccinated children can present with atypical symptoms. Characteristics of cough should be investigated, particularly whether the cough is paroxysmal in nature, increases during the night and occurs in the absence of fever.

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    (i)

    Isolation of Bordetella pertussis from a clinical specimen

    (ii)

    Detection of Bordetella pertussis nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    (iii)

    Bordetella pertussis specific antibody response

    Direct diagnosis (i)-(ii): Bordetella pertussis and its nucleic acid are best isolated/detected from nasopharyngeal samples.

    Indirect diagnosis (iii): if possible ELISA should be performed using highly purified Pertussis Toxin and WHO reference sera as a standard. Results need to interpreted according to pertussis vaccination status. If vaccinated within the last few years before specimen collection, the titre of specific antibodies against Bordetella pertussis toxin may be a consequence of, or modified by, previous vaccination.

    Epidemiological Criteria

    An epidemiological link by human to human transmission

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    3.31.   PLAGUE

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following clinical forms:

     

    Bubonic plague:

    Fever

    AND

    Sudden onset of painful lymphadenitis

     

    Septicaemic plague:

    Fever

     

    Pneumonic plague:

    Fever

    AND

    At least one of the following three:

    Cough

    Chest pain

    Haemoptysis

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of Yersinia pestis from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Yersinia pestis nucleic acid from a clinical specimen

    Yersinia pestis anti-F1 antigen specific antibody response

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following four epidemiological links:

    Human to human transmission

    Animal to human transmission

    Laboratory exposure (where there is a potential exposure to plague)

    Exposure to a common source

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

    3.32.   STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE INFECTION, INVASIVE DISEASE

    Clinical Criteria

    Not relevant for surveillance purposes

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from a normally sterile site

    Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae nucleic acid from a normally sterile site

    Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen from a normally sterile site

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case NA

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria

    Antimicrobial resistance:

    The results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests must be reported according to the methods and criteria agreed between ECDC and Member States as specified by ECDC's European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) (15).

    3.33.   ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person < 15 years of age with Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP)

    OR

    Any person in whom polio is suspected by a physician

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of a polio virus and intratypic differentiation — Wild polio virus (WPV)

    Vaccine derived poliovirus (VDPV) (for the VDPV at least 85 % similarity with vaccine virus in the nucleotide sequences in the VP1 section)

    Sabin-like poliovirus: intratypic differentiation performed by a WHO-accredited polio laboratory (for the VDPV a > 1 % up to 15 % VP1 sequence difference compared with vaccine virus of the same serotype)

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following two epidemiological links:

    Human to human transmission

    An history of travel to a polio-endemic area or an area with suspected or confirmed circulation of poliovirus

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    3.34.   Q FEVER

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following three:

    Fever

    Pneumonia

    Hepatitis

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of Coxiella burnetii from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Coxiella burnetii nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Coxiella burnetii specific antibody response (IgG or IgM phase II)

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following two epidemiological links:

    Exposure to a common source

    Animal to human transmission

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    3.35.   RABIES

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with an acute encephalomyelitis

    AND

    At least two of the following seven:

    Sensory changes referred to the site of a preceding animal bite

    Paresis or paralysis

    Spasms of swallowing muscles

    Hydrophobia

    Delirium

    Convulsions

    Anxiety

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation of Lyssa virus from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Lyssa virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen (for example, saliva or brain tissue)

    Detection of viral antigens by a DFA in a clinical specimen

    Lyssa virus specific antibody response by virus neutralization assay in serum or CSF

    Laboratory results need to be interpreted according to the vaccination or immunization status

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following three epidemiological links:

    Animal to human transmission (animal with suspected or confirmed infection)

    Exposure to a common source (same animal)

    Human to human transmission (for example, transplantation of organs)

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    3.36.   RUBELLA

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with sudden onset of generalised maculo-papular rash

    AND

    At least one of the following five:

    Cervical adenopathy

    Sub-occipital adenopathy

    Post-auricular adenopathy

    Arthralgia

    Arthritis

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation of rubella virus from a clinical specimen

    Detection of rubella virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Rubella IgM antibody detection (*1)

    Rubella IgG seroconversion or significant rise in rubella IgG antibody titre in paired specimens tested in parallel.

    Laboratory results need to be interpreted according to the vaccination status (possible persistence of IgM antibodies upon vaccination).

    Epidemiological Criteria

    An epidemiological link to a confirmed case

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria who has not been recently vaccinated.

    In case of recent vaccination, a person meeting the clinical criteria with detection of wild-type rubella virus strain is considered as a confirmed case.

    Note: When rubella in pregnancy is suspected, further confirmation of a positive rubella IgM results is required for case management (for example, a rubella specific IgG avidity test, rubella IgM and comparison of rubella IgG levels on paired sera conducted in a reference laboratory).

    3.37.   CONGENITAL RUBELLA SYNDROME

    Clinical Criteria

    Congenital rubella infection (CRI)

    No clinical criteria can be defined for CRI

    Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS)

    Any infant < 1 year of age or any stillborn with:

    At least two of the conditions listed in (A)

    OR

    One in category (A) and one in category (B)

    (A)

    Cataract(s)

    Congenital glaucoma

    Congenital heart disease

    Loss of hearing

    Pigmentary retinopathy

    (B)

    Purpura

    Splenomegaly

    Microcephaly

    Developmental delay

    Meningo-encephalitis

    Radiolucent bone disease

    Jaundice that begins within 24 hours after birth

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation of rubella virus from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Rubella virus nucleic acid

    Rubella virus specific antibody response (IgM)

    Persistence of rubella IgG between 6 and 12 months of age (at least two samples with similar concentration of rubella IgG)

    Laboratory results need to be interpreted according to the vaccination status

    Epidemiological Criteria

    Any infant or any stillborn born to a woman with a laboratory confirmed rubella infection during pregnancy by human to human transmission vertical transmission)

    Case Classification Congenital Rubella

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any stillborn or infant either not tested OR with negative laboratory results with at least one of the following two:

    An epidemiological link AND at least one of the conditions listed in the category ‘A’ CRS clinical criteria

    Meeting the clinical criteria for CRS

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any stillborn meeting the laboratory criteria

    OR

    Any infant meeting the laboratory criteria AND at least one of the following two:

    An epidemiological link

    At least one of the conditions listed in the category ‘A’ CRS clinical criteria

    3.38.   SALMONELLA ENTERITIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following four:

    Diarrhoea

    Fever

    Abdominal pain

    Vomiting

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of Salmonella (other than S. Typhi or S. Paratyphi) in a clinical specimen

    Detection of nucleic acid from Salmonella (other than S. Typhi or S. Paratyphi) in a clinical specimen

    Note: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Salmonella enterica should be performed on a representative subset of isolates

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following five epidemiological links:

    Human to human transmission

    Exposure to a common source

    Animal to human transmission

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water

    Environmental exposure

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    Antimicrobial resistance

    The results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests must be reported according to the methods and criteria agreed between ECDC and Member States as specified in the EU protocol for harmonised monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in human Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates (16).

    3.39.   SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS)

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with fever or a history of fever

    AND

    At least one of the following three:

    Cough

    Difficulty in breathing

    Shortness of breath

    AND

    At least one of the following four:

    Radiographic evidence of pneumonia

    Radiographic evidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome

    Autopsy findings of pneumonia

    Autopsy findings of acute respiratory distress syndrome

    AND

    No alternative diagnosis which can fully explain the illness

    Laboratory Criteria

    Laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of virus in cell culture from any clinical specimen and identification of SARS-CoV using method such as RT-PCR

    Detection SARS-CoV nucleic acid in at least one of the following three:

    At least two different clinical specimens (for example, nasopharyngeal swab and stool)

    The same clinical specimen collected on two or more occasions during the course of the illness (for example, sequential nasopharyngeal aspirates)

    Two different assays or repeat RT-PCR using a new RNA extract from the original clinical sample on each occasion of testing

    SARS-CoV specific antibody response by one of the following two:

    Seroconversion by ELISA or IFA in acute and convalescent phase serum tested in parallel

    Four-fold or greater rise in antibody titre between acute and convalescent phase sera tested in parallel

    Laboratory criteria for a probable case

    At least one of the following two:

    A single positive antibody test for SARS-CoV

    A positive PCR result for SARS-CoV on a single clinical specimen and assay

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Any person with at least one of the following three:

    Employed in an occupation associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV exposure (for example, staff in a laboratory working with live SARS-CoV/SARS-CoV-like viruses or storing clinical specimens infected with SARS-CoV; persons with exposure to wildlife or other animals considered a reservoir of SARS-CoV, their excretions or secretions, etc.)

    Close contact (17) of one or more persons with confirmed SARS or under investigation for SARS

    History of travel to, or residence in, an area experiencing an outbreak of SARS

    Two or more health-care workers (18) with clinical evidence of SARS in the same health-care unit with onset of illness in the same 10-day period

    Three or more persons (health-care workers and/or patients and/or visitors) with clinical evidence of SARS with onset of illness in the same 10-day period and epidemiologically linked to a healthcare facility

    Case Classification for the inter-epidemic period

    Also applies during an outbreak in a non-affected country or area

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link and meeting the laboratory criteria for a probable case

    C.

    Nationally confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria for case confirmation where the testing has been performed at a national reference laboratory

    D.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria for case confirmation where the testing has been performed at a WHO SARS verification and reference laboratory

    Case Classification during an outbreak

    Applies during an outbreak in a country/area where at least one person has been laboratory confirmed by a WHO SARS verification and reference laboratory

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link to a nationally confirmed or a confirmed case

    C.

    Nationally confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria for case confirmation where the testing has been performed at a national reference laboratory

    D.

    Confirmed case

    One of the following three:

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria for case confirmation where the testing has been performed at a WHO SARS verification and reference laboratory

    Any nationally confirmed case with an epidemiological link to a chain of transmission where at least one case has been independently verified by a WHO SARS Reference and Verification Laboratory

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria and with laboratory criteria for probable case with an epidemiological link to a chain of transmission where at least one case has been independently verified by a WHO SARS Reference and Verification Laboratory

    3.40.   SHIGA TOXIN/VEROCYTOTOXIN-PRODUCING E. COLI INFECTION (STEC/VTEC), INCLUDING HAEMOLYTIC-URAEMIC SYNDROME (HUS)

    Clinical Criteria

    STEC/VTEC diarrhoea

    Any person with at least one of the following two:

    Diarrhoea

    Abdominal pain

    HUS

    Any person with acute renal failure and at least one of the following two:

    Microangiopatic haemolytic anaemia

    Thrombocytopenia

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation/cultivation of Escherichia coli that produces Shiga toxin/verocytotoxin or harbours stx1/vtx1 or stx2/vtx2 gene(s)

    Isolation of non-sorbitol-fermenting (NSF) Escherichia coli O157 (without testing for the toxin or toxin-producing genes)

    Direct detection of stx1/vtx1 or stx2/vtx2 gene(s) nucleic acid

    Direct detection of free Shiga toxin/verocytotoxin in faeces

    Only for HUS the following can be used as a laboratory criterion to confirm STEC/VTEC:

    Escherichia coli serogroup-specific (LPS) antibody response

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following five epidemiological links:

    Human to human transmission

    Exposure to a common source

    Animal to human transmission

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water

    Environmental exposure

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case of STEC-associated HUS

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria for HUS

    B.

    Probable case of STEC/VTEC

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case of STEC/VTEC

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.41.   SHIGELLOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following four:

    Diarrhoea

    Fever

    Vomiting

    Abdominal pain

    Laboratory Criteria

    For a confirmed case:

    Isolation of Shigella spp. from a clinical specimen

    For a probable case:

    Detection of Shigella spp. nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Note: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Shigella should be performed, if possible

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following four epidemiological links:

    Human to human transmission

    Exposure to a common source

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water

    Environmental exposure

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    OR

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria and laboratory criteria for a probable case

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria for a confirmed case

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    Antimicrobial resistance

    The results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests must be reported according to the methods and criteria agreed between ECDC and Member States.

    3.42.   SMALLPOX

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following two:

    Fever

    AND

    Vesicles or firm pustules rash at the same stage of development with a centrifugal distribution

    Atypical presentations defined as at least one of the following four:

    Haemorrhagic lesions

    Flat velvety lesions not progressing to vesicles

    Variola sine eruptione

    Milder type

    Laboratory Criteria

    Laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    At least one of the following two laboratory tests:

    Isolation of smallpox (Variola virus) from a clinical specimen followed by sequencing (designated P4 laboratories only)

    Detection of Variola virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen followed by sequencing

    Laboratory results need to be interpreted according to the vaccination status

    Laboratory criteria for a probable case

    Identification of orthopox virus particles by EM

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following two epidemiological links:

    Human to human transmission

    Laboratory exposure (where there is a potential exposure to Variola virus)

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria and with at least one of the following two:

    An epidemiological link to a confirmed human case by human to human transmission

    Meeting the laboratory criteria for a probable case

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    During an outbreak: any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    3.43.   SYPHILIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Primary syphilis

    Any person with one or several (usually painless) chancres in the genital, perineal, anal area or mouth or pharyngeal mucosa or elsewhere extragenitally

    Secondary syphilis

    Any person with at least one of the following five:

    Diffuse maculo-papular rash often involving palms and soles

    Generalized lymphadenopathy

    Condyloma lata

    Enanthema

    Diffuse alopecia

    Early latent syphilis (< 1 year)

    No symptoms and a history of symptoms compatible with those of the earlier stages of syphilis within the previous 12 months

    Note that ocular and neurological manifestations may occur at any stage of syphilis.

    Note that cases of late latent syphilis (> 1 year) are not under EU/EEA surveillance.

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following:

    Demonstration of Treponema pallidum in lesion exudates or tissues by dark-field microscopic examination

    Demonstration of Treponema pallidum in lesion exudates or tissues by DFA test

    Demonstration of Treponema in lesion exudates or tissues by nuclear acid amplification techniques (NAAT)

    Detection of Treponema pallidum antibodies by screening test (TPHA, TPPA or EIA) AND additionally detection of either TP-IgM antibodies (for example, IgM-ELISA or immunoblot or 19S-IgM-FTA-abs) OR non-TP antibodies (for example, RPR, VDRL).

    Epidemiological Criteria

    Primary/secondary syphilis

    An epidemiological link by human to human (sexual contact)

    Early latent syphilis

    An epidemiological link by human to human (sexual contact) within the 12 previous months

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    3.44.   CONGENITAL SYPHILIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any infant < 2 years of age with at least one of the following ten:

    Hepatospenomegaly

    Mucocutaneous lesions

    Condyloma lata

    Persistent rhinitis

    Jaundice

    Pseudoparalysis (due to periostitis and osteochondritis)

    Central nervous involvement

    Anaemia

    Nephrotic syndrome

    Malnutrition

    Laboratory Criteria

    Laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    At least one of the following three:

    Demonstration of Treponema pallidum by dark field microscopy in the umbilical cord, the placenta, a nasal discharge or skin lesion material

    Demonstration of Treponema pallidum by DFA-TP in the umbilical cord, the placenta, a nasal discharge or skin lesion material

    Detection of Treponema pallidum-specific IgM (FTA-abs, EIA)

    AND a reactive non-treponemal test (VDRL, RPR) in the child's serum

    Laboratory criteria for a probable case

    At least one of the following three:

    Reactive VDRL-CSF test result

    Reactive non-treponemal and treponemal serologic tests in the mother's serum

    Infant's non-treponemal antibody titre is four-fold or greater than the antibody titre in the mother's serum

    Epidemiological Criteria

    Any infant with an epidemiological link by human to human transmission (vertical transmission)

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any infant or child meeting the clinical criteria and with at least one of the following two:

    An epidemiological link

    Meeting the laboratory criteria for a probable case

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any infant meeting the laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    3.45.   TETANUS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with acute onset of at least two of the following three:

    Painful muscular contractions primarily of the masseter and neck muscles leading to facial spasms known as trismus and ‘risus sardonicus’

    Painful muscular contractions of trunk muscles

    Generalized spasms, frequently position of opisthotonus

    Laboratory Criteria NA

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria in the absense of a more likely diagnosis

    C.

    Confirmed case NA

    3.46.   TICK-BORNE VIRAL ENCEPHALITIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with symptoms of inflammation of the CNS (for example, meningitis, meningo-encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, encephaloradiculitis)

    Laboratory Criteria  (19)

    Laboratory criteria for case confirmation:

    At least one of the following five:

    TBE specific IgM AND IgG antibodies in blood

    TBE specific IgM antibodies in CSF

    Seroconversion or four-fold increase of TBE-specific antibodies in paired serum samples

    Detection of TBE viral nucleic acid in a clinical specimen,

    Isolation of TBE virus from clinical specimen

    Laboratory criteria for a probable case:

    Detection of TBE-specific IgM-antibodies in a unique serum sample

    Epidemiological Criteria

    Exposure to a common source (unpasteurised dairy products)

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria and the laboratory criteria for a probable case,

    OR

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    Note: Serological results should be interpreted according to previous exposure to other flaviviral infections and the flavivirus vaccination status. Confirmed cases in such situations should be validated by serum neutralization assay or other equivalent assays.

    3.47.   CONGENITAL TOXOPLASMOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Not relevant for surveillance purposes

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following four:

    Demonstration of Toxoplasma gondii in body tissues or fluids

    Detection of Toxoplasma gondii nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Toxoplasma gondii specific antibody response (IgM, IgG, IgA) in a newborn

    Persistently stable IgG Toxoplasma gondii titres in an infant (< 12 months of age)

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case NA

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any infant meeting the laboratory criteria

    3.48.   TRICHINELLOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least three of the following six:

    Fever

    Muscle soreness and pain

    Diarrhoea

    Facial oedema

    Eosinophilia

    Subconjunctival, subungual and retinal haemorrhages

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following two:

    Demonstration of Trichinella larvae in tissue obtained by muscle biopsy

    Trichinella specific antibody response (IFA test, ELISA or Western Blot)

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following two epidemiological links:

    Exposure to contaminated food (meat)

    Exposure to a common source

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.49.   TUBERCULOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with the following two:

    Signs, symptoms and/or radiological findings consistent with active tuberculosis in any site

    AND

    A clinician's decision to treat the person with a full course of anti-tuberculosis therapy

    OR

    A case discovered post-mortem with pathological findings consistent with active tuberculosis that would have indicated anti-tuberculosis antibiotic treatment had the patient been diagnosed before dying

    Laboratory Criteria

    Laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (excluding Mycobacterium bovis-BCG) from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex nucleic acid in a clinical specimen AND positive microscopy for acid-fast bacilli or equivalent fluorescent staining bacilli on light microscopy

    Laboratory criteria for a probable case

    At least one of the following three:

    Microscopy for acid-fast bacilli or equivalent fluorescent staining bacilli on light microscopy

    Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Histological appearance of granulomata

    Epidemiological Criteria NA

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria and the laboratory criteria for a probable case

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    Antimicrobial resistance

    The results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests must be reported according to the methods and criteria agreed between ECDC and Member States as specified by the European Reference Laboratory Network for Tuberculosis and the European Tuberculosis Surveillance Network (20).

    3.50.   TULARAEMIA

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following clinical forms:

     

    Ulceroglandular tularaemia

    Cutaneous ulcer

    AND

    Regional lymphadenopathy

     

    Glandular tularaemia

    Enlarged and painful lymph nodes without apparent ulcer

     

    Oculoglandular tularaemia

    Conjunctivitis

    AND

    Regional lymphadenopathy

     

    Oropharyngeal tularaemia

    Cervical lymphadenopathy

    AND at least one of the following three:

    Stomatitis

    Pharyngitis

    Tonsillitis

     

    Intestinal tularaemia

    At least one of the following three:

    Abdominal pain

    Vomiting

    Diarrhoea

     

    Pneumonic tularaemia

    Pneumonia

     

    Typhoidal tularaemia

    At least one of the following two:

    Fever without early localising signs and symptoms

    Septicaemia

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Isolation of Francisella tularensis from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Francisella tularensis nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Francisella tularensis specific antibody response

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following three epidemiological links:

    Exposure to a common source

    Animal to human transmission

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    3.51.   TYPHOID AND PARATYPHOID FEVERS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following two:

    Onset of sustained fever

    OR

    At least two of the following four:

    Headache

    Relative bradycardia

    Non-productive cough

    Diarrhoea, constipation, malaise or abdominal pain

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of Salmonella Typhi or Paratyphi from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Salmonella Typhi or Paratyphi nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following three epidemiological links:

    Exposure to a common source

    Human to human transmission

    Exposure to contaminated food/drinking water

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.52.   VIRAL HAEMORRHAGIC FEVERS (VHF)

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following two:

    Fever

    Haemorrhagic manifestations in various forms that may lead to multi-organ failure

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of specific virus from a clinical specimen

    Detection of specific virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen and genotyping

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following:

    Travel in the last 21 days to a region where VHF cases are known or believed to have occurred

    Exposure within the last 21 days to a probable or confirmed case of a VHF whose onset of illness was within the last 6 months

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    3.53.   WEST NILE VIRUS INFECTION (WNV)

    Clinical Criteria

    At least one of the following three:

    Any person with fever

    Encephalitis

    Meningitis

    Laboratory Criteria

    Laboratory test for case confirmation

    At least one of the following four:

    Isolation of WNV from blood or CSF

    Detection of WNV nucleic acid in blood or CSF

    WNV specific antibody response (IgM) in CSF

    WNV IgM high titre AND detection of WNV IgG, AND confirmation by neutralisation

    Laboratory test for a probable case

    WNV specific antibody response in serum

    Laboratory results need to be interpreted according to flavivirus vaccination status

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following two epidemiological links:

    Animal to human transmission (residing, having visited or having been exposed to mosquito bites in an area where WNV is endemic in horses or birds)

    Human to human transmission (vertical transmission, blood transfusion, transplants)

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria AND with at least one of the following two:

    an epidemiological link

    a laboratory test for a probable case

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the laboratory criteria for case confirmation

    Note: Serological results should be interpreted according to previous exposure to other flaviviral infections and the flavivirus vaccination status. Confirmed cases in such situations should be validated by serum neutralization assay or other equivalent assays.

    3.54.   YELLOW FEVER

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with fever

    AND

    At least one of the following two:

    Jaundice

    Generalised haemorrhage

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following five:

    Isolation of yellow fever virus from a clinical specimen

    Detection of yellow fever virus nucleic acid

    Detection of yellow fever antigen

    Yellow fever specific antibody response

    Demonstration of typical lesions in post mortem liver histopathology

    Epidemiological Criteria

    Travel in the last 1 week to a region where yellow fever cases are known or believed to have occurred

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person not recently vaccinated meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    In case of recent vaccination, a person with detection of wild-type yellow fever virus strain

    Note: Serological results should be interpreted according to previous exposure to other flaviviral infections and the flavivirus vaccination status. Confirmed cases in such situations should be validated by serum neutralization assay or other equivalent assays.

    3.55.   ENTERITIS DUE TO YERSINIA ENTEROCOLITICA OR YERSINIA PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS

    Clinical Criteria

    Any person with at least one of the following five:

    Fever

    Diarrhoea

    Vomiting

    Abdominal pain (pseudoappendicitis)

    Rectal tenesmus

    Laboratory Criteria

    At least one of the following two:

    Isolation of human pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica or Yersinia pseudotuberculosis from a clinical specimen

    Detection of Y. enterocolitica or Y. pseudotuberculosis virulence genes in a clinical specimen

    Epidemiological Criteria

    At least one of the following four epidemiological links:

    Human to human transmission

    Exposure to a common source

    Animal to human transmission

    Exposure to contaminated food

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    Any person meeting the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link

    C.

    Confirmed case

    Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

    Note: If the national surveillance system is not capturing clinical symptoms, all laboratory-confirmed individuals should be reported as confirmed cases.

    3.56.   ZIKA VIRUS DISEASE

    Clinical Criteria

    A person presenting with a rash

    Laboratory Criteria

    A.   Confirmed case

    At least one of the following:

    Detection of Zika virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen;

    Detection of Zika virus antigen in a clinical specimen;

    Isolation of Zika virus from a clinical specimen;

    Detection of Zika virus specific IgM antibodies in serum sample(s) AND confirmation by neutralization test;

    Seroconversion or four-fold increase in the titre of Zika specific antibodies in paired serum samples.

    B.   Probable case

    Detection of Zika specific IgM antibodies in a serum sample.

    Epidemiological Criteria

    History of travel to, or residence in an area with documented on-going transmission of Zika virus, within the two-week period prior to the onset of symptoms

    OR

    Sexual contact with a person recently exposed to or confirmed with Zika virus infection

    Case Classification

    A.

    Possible case NA

    B.

    Probable case

    A person meeting the clinical and the epidemiological criteria, and the laboratory criteria for a probable case.

    C.

    Confirmed case

    A person meeting the laboratory criteria for a confirmed case.

    Note: Serological results should be interpreted according to previous exposure to other flaviviral infections and the flavivirus vaccination status. Confirmed cases in such situations should be validated by serum neutralization assay or other equivalent assays.

    3.57.   CONGENITAL ZIKA VIRUS DISEASE

    Clinical Criteria

    An infant or foetus with microcephaly or intracranial calcifications or other central nervous system abnormalities.

    Laboratory Criteria

    A.   Confirmed case

    Detection of Zika virus nucleic acid in a clinical specimen;

    Detection of Zika virus antigen in a clinical specimen;

    Isolation of Zika virus from a clinical specimen;

    Detection of Zika specific IgM antibodies in serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or amniotic fluid.

    Epidemiological Criteria

    Mother having had confirmed Zika virus infection during pregnancy.

    Case Classification

    A.

    Probable case

    An infant or foetus that meets the clinical criteria with an epidemiological link.

    B.

    Confirmed case

    An infant or foetus that meets the clinical criteria and the laboratory criteria.

    4.   CASE DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL HEALTH ISSUES

    4.1.   GENERAL CASE DEFINITION OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION (OR ‘HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTION (HAI)’)

    A nosocomial infection associated to the current hospital stay is defined as infection that matches one of the case definitions AND

    the onset of symptoms was on day 3 or later (day of admission = day 1) of the current hospital admission OR

    the patient underwent surgery on day 1 or day 2 and develops symptoms of a Surgical Site Infection before day 3 OR

    an invasive device was placed on day 1 or day 2 resulting in an HAI before day 3

    A nosocomial infection associated to a previous hospital stay is defined as an infection that matches one of the case definitions

    AND

    the patient presents with an infection but has been readmitted less than 48 hours after a previous admission to an acute care hospital

    OR

    the patient has been admitted with an infection that meets the case definition of a Surgical Site Infection i.e. the SSI occurred within 30 days of the operation (or in the case of surgery involving an implant was a deep or organ/space SSI that developed within 90 days of the operation) and the patient either has symptoms that meet the case definition and/or is on antimicrobial treatment for that infection

    OR

    the patient has been admitted (or develops symptoms within 2 days) with Clostridium difficile infection less than 28 days from a previous discharge from an acute care hospital.

    Note: For the purpose of point prevalence surveys, an active nosocomial infection present on the day of the survey is defined as an infection for which signs and symptoms of the infection are present on the survey date or signs and symptoms were present in the past and the patient is (still) receiving treatment for that infection on the survey date. The presence of symptoms and signs should be verified until the start of the treatment in order to determine whether the treated infection matches one of the case definitions of nosocomial infection

    4.1.1.   BJ: Bone and joint infection

    BJ-BONE: Osteomyelitis

    Osteomyelitis must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from bone

    Patient has evidence of osteomyelitis on direct examination of the bone during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has at least 2 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), localized swelling, tenderness, heat, or drainage at suspected site of bone infection

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    organisms cultured from blood

    positive blood antigen test (for example, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae)

    radiographic evidence of infection (for example, abnormal findings on X-ray, CT scan, MRI, radiolabel scan (gallium, technetium, etc.)).

    Note reporting instruction

    Report mediastinitis following cardiac surgery that is accompanied by osteomyelitis as surgical site infection-organ/space (SSI-O).

    BJ-JNT: Joint or bursa

    Joint or bursa infections must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from joint fluid or synovial biopsy

    Patient has evidence of joint or bursa infection seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has at least two of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: joint pain, swelling, tenderness, heat, evidence of effusion or limitation of motion

    AND at least one of the following:

    organisms and white blood cells seen on Gram's stain of joint fluid

    positive antigen test on blood, urine, or joint fluid

    cellular profile and chemistries of joint fluid compatible with infection and not explained by an underlying rheumatologic disorder

    radiographic evidence of infection (for example, abnormal findings on X-ray, CT scan, MRI, radiolabel scan (gallium, technetium, etc.))

    BJ-DISC: Disc space infection

    Vertebral disc space infection must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from vertebral disc space tissue obtained during a surgical operation or needle aspiration

    Patient has evidence of vertebral disc space infection seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has fever (> 38 °C) with no other recognized cause or pain at the involved vertebral disc space

    AND radiographic evidence of infection (for example, abnormal findings on X-ray, CT scan, MRI, radiolabel scan (gallium, technetium, etc.)).

    Patient has fever (> 38 °C) with no other recognized cause and pain at the involved vertebral disc space

    AND positive antigen test on blood or urine (for example, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, or Group B Streptococcus).

    4.1.2.   BSI: Bloodstream infection

    BSI: Laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection

    One positive blood culture for a recognised pathogen

    OR

    Patient has at least one of the following signs or symptoms: fever (> 38 °C), chills, or hypotension

    AND Two positive blood cultures for a common skin contaminant (from 2 separate blood samples, usually within 48 hours)

    Skin contaminants = coagulase-negative staphylococci, Micrococcus spp., Propionibacterium acnes, Bacillus spp., Corynebacterium spp.

    Source of bloodstream infection:

    Catheter-related: the same micro-organism was cultured from the catheter or symptoms improve within 48 hours after removal of the catheter (C-PVC: peripheral catheter, C-CVC: central venous catheter (Note: report C-CVC or C-PVC BSI as CRI3-CVC or CRI3-PVC respectively if microbiologically confirmed, see CRI3 definition)).

    Secondary to another infection: the same micro-organism was isolated from another infection site or strong clinical evidence exists that bloodstream infection was secondary to another infection site, invasive diagnostic procedure or foreign body

    Pulmonary (S-PUL)

    Urinary tract infection (S-UTI)

    Digestive tract infection (S-DIG)

    SSI (S-SSI): surgical site infection

    Skin and soft tissue (S-SST)

    Other (S-OTH)

    Unknown origin (UO): None of the above, bloodstream infection of unknown origin (verified during survey and no source found)

    Unknown (UNK): No information available about the source of the bloodstream infection or information missing

    4.1.3.   CNS: Central nervous system infection

    CNS-IC: Intracranial infection (brain abscess, subdural or epidural infection, encephalitis)

    Intracranial infection must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from brain tissue or dura

    Patient has an abscess or evidence of intracranial infection seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has at least 2 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: headache, dizziness, fever (> 38 °C), localizing neurologic signs, changing level of consciousness, or confusion

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    organisms seen on microscopic examination of brain or abscess tissue obtained by needle aspiration or by biopsy during a surgical operation or autopsy

    positive antigen test on blood or urine

    radiographic evidence of infection (for example, abnormal findings on ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, radionuclide brain scan, or arteriogram)

    diagnostic single antibody titre (IgM) or 4-fold increase in paired sera (IgG) for pathogen

    AND if diagnosis is made antemortem, physician institutes appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

    Note reporting instruction

    If meningitis and a brain abscess are present together, report the infection as IC

    CNS-MEN: Meningitis or ventriculitis

    Meningitis or ventriculitis must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

    Patient has at least 1 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), headache, stiff neck, meningeal signs, cranial nerve signs, or irritability

    AND at least one of the following:

    increased white cells, elevated protein, and/or decreased glucose in CSF

    organisms seen on Gram's stain of CSF

    organisms cultured from blood

    positive antigen test of CSF, blood, or urine

    diagnostic single antibody titre (IgM) or 4-fold increase in paired sera (IgG) for pathogen

    AND if diagnosis is made antemortem, physician institutes appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

    Note reporting instructions

    Report CSF shunt infection as SSI if it occurs <=90 days of placement; if > 90 days or after manipulation/access of the shunt, report as CNS-MEN if the infection meets the general case definition of HAI

    Report meningoencephalitis as MEN

    Report spinal abscess with meningitis as MEN

    CNS-SA: Spinal abscess without meningitis

    An abscess of the spinal epidural or subdural space, without involvement of the cerebrospinal fluid or adjacent bone structures, must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from abscess in the spinal epidural or subdural space

    Patient has an abscess in the spinal epidural or subdural space seen during a surgical operation or at autopsy or evidence of an abscess seen during a histopathologic examination

    Patient has at least 1 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), back pain, focal tenderness, radiculitis, paraparesis, or paraplegia

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    organisms cultured from blood

    radiographic evidence of a spinal abscess (for example, abnormal findings on myelography, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, or other scans (gallium, technetium, etc.))

    AND if diagnosis is made antemortem, physician institutes appropriate antimicrobial therapy

    Note reporting instruction

    Report spinal abscess with meningitis as meningitis (CNS-MEN)

    4.1.4.   CRI: Catheter-related infection (21)

    CRI1-CVC: Local CVC-related infection (no positive blood culture)

    quantitative CVC culture ≥ 103 CFU/ml or semi-quantitative CVC culture > 15 CFU

    AND pus/inflammation at the insertion site or tunnel

    CRI1-PVC: Local PVC-related infection (no positive blood culture)

    quantitative PVC culture ≥ 103 CFU/ml or semi-quantitative PVC culture > 15 CFU

    AND pus/inflammation at the insertion site or tunnel

    CRI2-CVC: General CVC-related infection (no positive blood culture)

    quantitative CVC culture ≥ 103 CFU/ml or semi-quantitative CVC culture > 15 CFU

    AND clinical signs improve within 48 hours after catheter removal

    CRI2-PVC: General PVC-related infection (no positive blood culture)

    quantitative PVC culture ≥ 103 CFU/ml or semi-quantitative PVC culture > 15 CFU

    AND clinical signs improve within 48 hours after catheter removal

    CRI3-CVC: microbiologically confirmed CVC-related bloodstream infection

    BSI occurring 48 hours before or after catheter removal (if any)

    AND positive culture with the same micro-organism of either:

    quantitative CVC culture ≥ 103 CFU/ml or semi-quantitative CVC culture > 15 CFU

    quantitative blood culture ratio CVC blood sample/peripheral blood sample > 5

    differential delay of positive blood cultures: CVC blood sample culture positive 2 hours or more before peripheral blood culture (blood samples drawn at the same time)

    positive culture with the same micro-organism from pus from insertion site

    CRI3-PVC: microbiologically confirmed PVC-related bloodstream infection

    BSI occurring 48 hours before or after catheter removal (if any)

    AND positive culture with the same micro-organism of either:

    quantitative PVC culture ≥ 103 CFU/ml or semi-quantitative PVC culture > 15 CFU

    positive culture with the same micro-organism from pus from insertion site

    4.1.5.   CVS: Cardiovascular system infection

    CVS-VASC: Arterial or venous infection

    Arterial or venous infection must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from arteries or veins removed during a surgical operation

    AND blood culture not done or no organisms cultured from blood

    Patient has evidence of arterial or venous infection seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has at least 1 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), pain, erythema, or heat at involved vascular site

    AND more than 15 colonies cultured from intravascular cannula tip using semiquantitative culture method

    AND blood culture not done or no organisms cultured from blood

    Patient has purulent drainage at involved vascular site

    AND blood culture not done or no organisms cultured from blood

    Note reporting instructions

    Report infections of an arteriovenous graft, shunt, or fistula or intravascular cannulation site without organisms cultured from blood as CVS-VASC. Report CVS-VASC matching the third criterion as CRI1 or CRI2, as appropriate.

    CVS-ENDO: Endocarditis

    Endocarditis of a natural or prosthetic heart valve must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from valve or vegetation

    Patient has two or more of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), new or changing murmur, embolic phenomena, skin manifestations (for example, petechiae, splinter hemorrhages, painful subcutaneous nodules), congestive heart failure, or cardiac conduction abnormality

    AND at least one of the following:

    organisms cultured from two or more blood cultures

    organisms seen on Gram's stain of valve when culture is negative or not done

    valvular vegetation seen during a surgical operation or autopsy

    positive antigen test on blood or urine (for example, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, or Group B Streptococcus)

    evidence of new vegetation seen on echocardiogram

    AND if diagnosis is made antemortem, physician institutes appropriate antimicrobial therapy

    CVS-CARD: Myocarditis or pericarditis

    Myocarditis or pericarditis must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from pericardial tissue or fluid obtained by needle aspiration or during a surgical operation

    Patient has at least two of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), chest pain, paradoxical pulse, or increased heart size

    AND at least one of the following:

    abnormal EKG consistent with myocarditis or pericarditis

    positive antigen test on blood (for example, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae)

    evidence of myocarditis or pericarditis on histologic examination of heart tissue

    4-fold rise in type-specific antibody with or without isolation of virus from pharynx or feces

    pericardial effusion identified by echocardiogram, CT scan, MRI, or angiography

    CVS-MED: Mediastinitis

    Mediastinitis must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from mediastinal tissue or fluid obtained during a surgical operation or needle aspiration

    Patient has evidence of mediastinitis seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has at least one of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), chest pain, or sternal instability

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    purulent discharge from mediastinal area

    organisms cultured from blood or discharge from mediastinal area

    mediastinal widening on X-ray

    Note reporting instruction

    Report mediastinitis following cardiac surgery that is accompanied by osteomyelitis as SSI-O

    4.1.6.   EENT: Eye, ear, nose, throat, or mouth infection

    EENT-CONJ: Conjunctivitis

    Conjunctivitis must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has pathogens cultured from purulent exudate obtained from the conjunctiva or contiguous tissues, such as eyelid, cornea, meibomian glands, or lacrimal glands

    Patient has pain or redness of conjunctiva or around eye

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    WBCs and organisms seen on Gram's stain of exudates

    purulent exudates

    positive antigen test (for example, ELISA or IF for Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex virus, adenovirus) on exudate or conjunctival scraping

    multinucleated giant cells seen on microscopic examination of conjunctival exudate or scrapings

    positive viral culture

    diagnostic single antibody titre (IgM) or 4-fold increase in paired sera (IgG) for pathogen

    Note reporting instructions

    Report other infections of the eye as EYE

    Do not report chemical conjunctivitis caused by silver nitrate (AgNO3) as a health care-associated infection

    Do not report conjunctivitis that occurs as a part of a more widely disseminated viral illness (such as measles, chickenpox, or a URI)

    EENT-EYE: Eye, other than conjunctivitis

    An infection of the eye, other than conjunctivitis, must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from anterior or posterior chamber or vitreous fluid

    Patient has at least 2 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: eye pain, visual disturbance, or hypopyon

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    physician diagnosis of an eye infection

    positive antigen test on blood (for example, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae)

    organisms cultured from blood

    EENT-EAR: Ear mastoid

    Ear and mastoid infections must meet at least one of the following criteria:

     

    Otitis externa must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has pathogens cultured from purulent drainage from ear canal

    Patient has at least one of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), pain, redness, or drainage from ear canal

    and organisms seen on Gram's stain of purulent drainage

     

    Otitis media must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from fluid from middle ear obtained by tympanocentesis or at surgical operation

    Patient has at least two of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), pain in the eardrum, inflammation, retraction or decreased mobility of eardrum, or fluid behind eardrum

     

    Otitis interna must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from fluid from inner ear obtained at surgical operation

    Patient has a physician diagnosis of inner ear infection

     

    Mastoiditis must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from purulent drainage from mastoid

    Patient has at least two of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), pain, tenderness, erythema, headache, or facial paralysis

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    organisms seen on Gram's stain of purulent material from mastoid

    positive antigen test on blood

    EENT-ORAL: Oral cavity (mouth, tongue, or gums)

    Oral cavity infections must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from purulent material from tissues of oral cavity

    Patient has an abscess or other evidence of oral cavity infection seen on direct examination, during a surgical operation, or during a histopathologic examination

    Patient has at least 1 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: abscess, ulceration, or raised white patches on inflamed mucosa, or plaques on oral mucosa

    AND at least one of the following:

    organisms seen on Gram's stain

    positive KOH (potassium hydroxide) stain

    multinucleated giant cells seen on microscopic examination of mucosal scrapings

    positive antigen test on oral secretions

    diagnostic single antibody titre (IgM) or 4-fold increase in paired sera (IgG) for pathogen

    physician diagnosis of infection and treatment with topical or oral antifungal therapy

    Note reporting instruction

    Report health care-associated primary herpes simplex infections of the oral cavity as ORAL; recurrent herpes infections are not healthcare-associated

    EENT-SINU: Sinusitis

    Sinusitis must meet at least 1 of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from purulent material obtained from sinus cavity

    Patient has at least 1 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), pain or tenderness over the involved sinus, headache, purulent exudate, or nasal obstruction

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    positive transillumination

    positive radiographic examination (including CT scan)

    EENT-UR: Upper respiratory tract, pharyngitis, laryngitis, epiglottitis

    Upper respiratory tract infections must meet at least 1 of the following criteria:

    Patient has at least two of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), erythema of pharynx, sore throat, cough, hoarseness, or purulent exudate in throat

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    organisms cultured from the specific site

    organisms cultured from blood

    positive antigen test on blood or respiratory secretions

    diagnostic single antibody titre (IgM) or 4-fold increase in paired sera (IgG) for pathogen

    physician diagnosis of an upper respiratory infection

    Patient has an abscess seen on direct examination, during a surgical operation, or during a histopathologic examination

    4.1.7.   GI: Gastrointestinal system infection

    GI-CDI: Clostridium difficile infection

    A Clostridium difficile infection (previously also referred to as Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea or CDAD) must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Diarrhoeal stools or toxic megacolon, AND a positive laboratory assay for Clostridium difficile toxin A and/or B in stools or a toxin-producing C. difficile organism detected in stool via culture or other means for example, a positive PCR result;

    Pseudomembranous colitis revealed by lower gastro-intestinal endoscopy

    Colonic histopathology characteristic of Clostridium difficile infection (with or without diarrhoea) on a specimen obtained during endoscopy, colectomy or autopsy

    GI-GE: Gastroenteritis (excl. CDI)

    Gastroenteritis must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has an acute onset of diarrhea (liquid stools for more than 12 hours) with or without vomiting or fever (> 38 °C) and no likely noninfectious cause (for example, diagnostic tests, therapeutic regimen other than antimicrobial agents, acute exacerbation of a chronic condition, or psychologic stress)

    Patient has at least 2 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever (> 38 °C), or headache

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    an enteric pathogen is cultured from stool or rectal swab

    an enteric pathogen is detected by routine or electron microscopy

    an enteric pathogen is detected by antigen or antibody assay on blood or feces

    evidence of an enteric pathogen is detected by cytopathic changes in tissue culture (toxin assay)

    diagnostic single antibody titre (IgM) or 4-fold increase in paired sera (IgG) for pathogen

    GI-GIT: Gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, small and large bowel, and rectum) excluding gastroenteritis and appendicitis

    Gastrointestinal tract infections, excluding gastroenteritis and appendicitis, must meet at least 1 of the following criteria:

    Patient has an abscess or other evidence of infection seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has at least 2 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause and compatible with infection of the organ or tissue involved: fever (> 38 °C), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or tenderness

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    organisms cultured from drainage or tissue obtained during a surgical operation or endoscopy or from a surgically placed drain

    organisms seen on Gram's or KOH stain or multinucleated giant cells seen on microscopic examination of drainage or tissue obtained during a surgical operation or endoscopy or from a surgically placed drain

    organisms cultured from blood

    evidence of pathologic findings on radiographic examination

    evidence of pathologic findings on endoscopic examination (for example, Candida spp. esophagitis or proctitis)

    GI-HEP: Hepatitis

    Hepatitis must meet the following criterion:

    Patient has at least 2 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, or history of transfusion within the previous 3 months

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    positive antigen or antibody test for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or delta hepatitis

    abnormal liver function tests (for example, elevated ALT/AST, bilirubin)

    cytomegalovirus (CMV) detected in urine or oropharyngeal secretions

    Note reporting instructions

    Do not report hepatitis or jaundice of non-infectious origin (alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, etc.)

    Do not report hepatitis or jaundice that results from exposure to hepatotoxins (alcoholic or acetaminophen-induced hepatitis, etc.)

    Do not report hepatitis or jaundice that results from biliary obstruction (cholecystitis)

    GI-IAB: Intraabdominal, not specified elsewhere including gallbladder, bile ducts, liver (excluding viral hepatitis), spleen, pancreas, peritoneum, subphrenic or subdiaphragmatic space, or other intraabdominal tissue or area not specified elsewhere

    Intraabdominal infections must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from purulent material from intraabdominal space obtained during a surgical operation or needle aspiration

    Patient has abscess or other evidence of intraabdominal infection seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has at leasttwo of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or jaundice

    AND at least one of the following:

    organisms cultured from drainage from surgically placed drain (for example, closed suction drainage system, open drain, T-tube drain)

    organisms seen on Gram's stain of drainage or tissue obtained during surgical operation or needle aspiration

    organisms cultured from blood and radiographic evidence of infection (for example, abnormal findings on ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, or radiolabel scans (gallium, technetium, etc.) or on abdominal X-ray)

    Note reporting instruction

    Do not report pancreatitis (an inflammatory syndrome characterized by abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting associated with high serum levels of pancreatic enzymes) unless it is determined to be infectious in origin

    4.1.8.   LRI: Lower respiratory tract infection, other than pneumonia

    LRI-BRON: Bronchitis, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, tracheitis, without evidence of pneumonia

    Patient has no clinical or radiographic evidence of pneumonia

    AND patient has at least two of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), cough, new or increased sputum production, rhonchi, wheezing

    AND at least one of the following:

    positive culture obtained by deep tracheal aspirate or bronchoscopy

    positive antigen test on respiratory secretions

    Note reporting instruction

    Do not report chronic bronchitis in a patient with chronic lung disease as an infection unless there is evidence of an acute secondary infection, manifested by change in organism

    LRI-LUNG: Other infections of the lower respiratory tract

    Other infections of the lower respiratory tract must meet at least one of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms seen on smear or cultured from lung tissue or fluid, including pleural fluid

    Patient has a lung abscess or empyema seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has an abscess cavity seen on radiographic examination of lung

    Note reporting instruction

    Report lung abscess or empyema without pneumonia as LUNG

    4.1.9.   NEO: Specific neonatal case definitions

    NEO-CSEP: Clinical Sepsis

    ALL of the three following criteria:

    Supervising physician started appropriate antimicrobial therapy for sepsis for at least 5 days

    No detection of pathogens in blood culture or not tested

    No obvious infection at another site

    AND 2 of the following criteria (without other apparent cause):

    Fever (> 38 °C) or temperature instability (frequent post-set of the incubator) or hypothermia (< 36,5 °C)

    Tachycardia (> 200/min) or new/increased bradycardia (< 80/min)

    Capillary refilling time (CRT) > 2s

    New or increased apnoea (s) (> 20s)

    Unexplained metabolic acidosis

    New-onset hyperglycemia (> 140 mg/dl)

    Another sign of sepsis (skin colour (only if the CRT is not used), laboratory signs (CRP, interleukin), increased oxygen requirement (intubation), unstable general condition of the patient, apathy)

    NEO-LCBI: Laboratory-confirmed BSI

    at least two of: temperature > 38 °C or < 36,5 °C or temperature instability, tachycardia or bradycardia, apnoea, extended capillary refilling time (CRT), metabolic acidosis, hyperglycaemia, other sign of BSI such as apathy

    AND

    a recognised pathogen other than coagulase-negative staphylococci cultured from blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; this is included because meningitis in this age group is usually haematogenous, so positive CSF can be regarded as evidence of BSI even if blood cultures are negative or were not taken)

    Note reporting instructions

    in order to be consistent with BSI reporting in adults (including secondary BSI), the criterion ‘the organism is not related to an infection at another site’ was removed from the Neo-KISS definition for the purposes of the EU PPS

    report the origin of the neonatal BSI in the field BSI origin

    if both the case definitions for NEO-LCBI and NEO-CNSB are matched, report NEO-LCBI

    NEO-CNSB: Laboratory-confirmed BSI with coagulase-negative staphylococci

    at least two of: temperature > 38 °C or < 36,5 °C or temperature instability, tachycardia or bradycardia, apnoea, extended recapillarisation time, metabolic acidosis, hyperglycaemia, other sign of BSI such as apathy

    AND coagulase-negative staphylococci is cultured from blood or catheter tip

    AND patient has one of: C-reactive protein > 2,0 mg/dL, immature/total neutrophil ratio (I/T ratio) > 0,2, leukocytes < 5/nL, platelets < 100/nL

    Note reporting instructions

    in order to be consistent with BSI reporting in adults (including secondary BSI), the criterion ‘the organism is not related to an infection at another site’ was removed from the Neo-KISS definition for the purposes of the EU PPS

    report the origin of the neonatal BSI in the field BSI origin

    if both the case definitions for NEO-LCBI and NEO-CNSB are matched, report NEO-LCBI

    NEO-PNEU: Pneumonia

    respiratory compromise

    AND new infiltrate, consolidation or pleural effusion on chest X ray

    AND at least four of: temperature > 38 °C or < 36,5 °C or temperature instability, tachycardia or bradycardia, tachypnoea or apnoea, dyspnoea, increased respiratory secretions, new onset of purulent sputum, isolation of a pathogen from respiratory secretions, C-reactive protein > 2,0 mg/dL, I/T ratio > 0,2

    NEO-NEC: Necrotising enterocolitis

    Histopathological evidence of necrotising enterocolitis

    OR

    at least one characteristic radiographic abnormality (pneumoperitoneum, pneumatosis intestinalis, unchanging ‘rigid’ loops of small bowel) plus at least two of the following without other explanation: vomiting, abdominal distention, prefeeding residuals, persistent microscopic or gross blood in stools

    4.1.10.   PN: Pneumonia

    Two or more serial chest X-rays or CT-scans with a suggestive image of pneumonia for patients with underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease. In patients without underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease one definitive chest X-ray or CT-scan is sufficient

    AND at least one of the following symptoms

    Fever > 38 °C with no other cause

    Leukopenia (< 4 000 WBC/mm3) or leucocytosis (≥ 12 000 WBC/mm3)

    AND at least one of the following (or at least two if clinical pneumonia only = PN 4 and PN 5)

    New onset of purulent sputum, or change in character of sputum (colour, odour, quantity, consistency)

    Cough or dyspnea or tachypnea

    Suggestive auscultation (rales or bronchial breath sounds), ronchi, wheezing

    Worsening gas exchange (for example, O2 desaturation or increased oxygen requirements or increased ventilation demand)

    and according to the used diagnostic method

    (a)

    Bacteriologic diagnostic performed by:

    Positive quantitative culture from minimally contaminated LRT (22) specimen (PN 1)

    Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) with a threshold of ≥ 104 CFU (23)/ml or ≥ 5 % of BAL obtained cells contains intracellular bacteria on direct microscopic exam (classified on the diagnostic category BAL)

    Protected brush (PB Wimberley) with a threshold of ≥ 103 CFU/ml

    Distal protected aspirate (DPA) with a threshold of ≥ 103 CFU/ml

    Positive quantitative culture from possibly contaminated LRT specimen (PN 2)

    Quantitative culture of LRT specimen (for example, endotracheal aspirate) with a threshold of 106 CFU/ml

    (b)

    Alternative microbiology methods (PN 3)

    Positive blood culture not related to another source of infection

    Positive growth in culture of pleural fluid

    Pleural or pulmonary abscess with positive needle aspiration

    Histologic pulmonary exam shows evidence of pneumonia

    Positive exams for pneumonia with virus or particular germs (for example, Legionella, Aspergillus, mycobacteria, mycoplasma, Pneumocystis jirovecii):

    Positive detection of viral antigen or antibody from respiratory secretions (for example, EIA, FAMA, shell vial assay, PCR)

    Positive direct exam or positive culture from bronchial secretions or tissue

    Seroconversion (for example, influenza viruses, Legionella, Chlamydia)

    Detection of antigens in urine (Legionella)

    (c)

    Others

    Positive sputum culture or non-quantitative LRT specimen culture (PN 4)

    No positive microbiology (PN 5)

    Notes:

    One definitive chest X-ray or CT-scan for the current pneumonia episode may be sufficient in patients with underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease if comparison with previous X-rays is possible.

    PN 1 and PN 2 criteria were validated without previous antimicrobial therapy. However, this does not exclude the diagnosis of PN 1 or PN 2 in case of previous antimicrobial use.

    Intubation-associated pneumonia (IAP)

    A pneumonia is defined as intubation-associated (IAP) if an invasive respiratory device was present (even intermittently) in the 48 hours preceding the onset of infection

    Note: Pneumonia for which intubation was started on the day of onset without additional information on the sequence of the events is not considered as IAP

    4.1.11.   REPR: Reproductive tract infection

    REPR-EMET: Endometritis

    Endometritis must meet at least 1 of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from fluid or tissue from endometrium obtained during surgical operation, by needle aspiration, or by brush biopsy

    Patient has at least 2 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), abdominal pain, uterine tenderness, or purulent drainage from uterus

    Note reporting instruction

    Report postpartum endometritis as a health care-associated infection unless the amniotic fluid is infected at the time of admission or the patient was admitted 48 hours after rupture of the membrane

    REPR-EPIS: Episiotomy

    Episiotomy infections must meet at least 1 of the following criteria:

    Postvaginal delivery patient has purulent drainage from the episiotomy

    Postvaginal delivery patient has an episiotomy abscess

    REPR-VCUF: Vaginal cuff

    Vaginal cuff infections must meet at least 1 of the following criteria:

    Posthysterectomy patient has purulent drainage from the vaginal cuff

    Posthysterectomy patient has an abscess at the vaginal cuff

    Posthysterectomy patient has pathogens cultured from fluid or tissue obtained from the vaginal cuff

    Note reporting instruction

    Report vaginal cuff infections as SSI-O if other SSI criteria are met (within 30 days following hysterectomy).

    REPR-OREP: Other infections of the male or female reproductive tract (epididymis, testes, prostate, vagina, ovaries, uterus, or other deep pelvic tissues, excluding endometritis or vaginal cuff infections)

    Other infections of the male or female reproductive tract must meet at least 1 of the following criteria:

    Patient has organisms cultured from tissue or fluid from affected site

    Patient has an abscess or other evidence of infection of affected site seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

    Patient has 2 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), nausea, vomiting, pain, tenderness, or dysuria

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    organisms cultured from blood

    physician diagnosis

    Note reporting instructions

    Report endometritis as EMET