Background:
AIDS case surveillance is a core public health activity that has been the responsibility of the HIV Epidemiology Program since its inception. Non-AIDS HIV surveillance was mandated by California regulation starting in July 2002. These activities are supported by a grant from the State Office of AIDS and by federal funding through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV and AIDS surveillance activities are divided among two units, Data Acquisition Unit and Data Analysis Unit.
The Data Acquisition unit is responsible for coordinating and conducting
the activities relating to the identification and reporting of HIV and AIDS cases. Surveillance activities are conducted through a comprehensive network of reporting sources, such as public and private hospitals and clinics, health maintenance organizations, vital registries, other disease control programs, public and private laboratories, and community-based organizations in collaboration with other counties and states. Historically, the Data Acquisition unit has reported 35% of all AIDS cases in California and 5-6% of all AIDS cases nationally. Only four states have reported more cumulative AIDS cases than Los Angeles County and only New York City has more cases among major metropolitan areas.
The Data Analysis unit is responsible for the
HIV/AIDS laboratory surveillance, electronic case
reporting and record likages, the maintenance of the
HIV/AIDS case registry, and the dissemination of
reported cases. We also respond to data requests,
prepare surveillance summary reports and standardized
presentation slides, and conduct research projects that
are related to HIV/AIDS surveillance. HIV/AIDS
surveillance data are analyzed and summarized on an
ongoing basis. The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Summary is
distributed semi-annually to more than 1,200 persons,
including physicians, hospital infection control
practitioners, laboratory personnel, representatives of
community based organizations, public health officials,
the news media, local government officials, and
researchers.
Objectives:
- Conduct active and passive name-based surveillance of AIDS cases and non-AIDS HIV surveillance using a coded-identifier to monitor HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality in adults, adolescents, and children and to monitor perinatal exposure to HIV.
- Conduct follow-up investigations of cases of special epidemiologic significance.
- Conduct interstate reciprocal notification of newly identified HIV/AIDS cases.
- Ensure that case-finding activities and data management are conducted in a manner that ensures the security and confidentiality of HIV/AIDS surveillance data.
- Conduct activities to evaluate and improve the quality, efficiency, and productivity of the core surveillance units to ensure that CDC criteria for reporting timeliness, completeness, and accuracy are met.
- Report HIV/AIDS surveillance data using CDC standards and software.
- Analyze and disseminate HIV/AIDS surveillance data and promote the use of these data in local prevention and health services planning and evaluation.
- Implement projects to supplement the information available through HIV/AIDS case reporting to enhance HIV prevention and care planning.
Contact Persons:
Latonya Taylor, R.N., M.S.N./M.P.H., C.N.S., Chief, Data Acquisition Unit,
213-351-8146
Virginia Hu, M.P.H., Chief, Data Analysis Unit,
213-351-8142
Mi Suk Yu-Harlan, M.S.P.H., Special Surveillance
Projects/Multi-Jurisdiction Case Check, 213-351-8194
Azita Nagdhi, M.P.H., Pediatric HIV/AIDS Surveillance,
213-351-8153
