Using research to prepare for outbreaks of severe acute respiratory infection

In addition to research preparedness for future outbreaks, documenting variation in epidemiology, management and outcomes of patients with SARI across regions is the first step towards standardising care, improving outcomes, and ensuring that interventional studies are performed on the background of optimal, standardised clinical care. We present combined results from the first two seasons of data collection for this programme during 2016-2017, where the primary circulating respiratory viruses were influenza A (H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09. 7 8 roll-ouT of dATA ColleCTIon InfrASTruCTure design SPRINT-SARI is an annual period prevalence study enrolling newly admitted patients with SARI to participating intensive care units or hospital wards where intensive care units were not accessible. All patients admitted over a 1-week period during the peak respiratory infection season in northern and southern hemispheres were enrolled. Hospitals and intensive care units were sampled through convenience, due to their participation in prior studies or involvement with ongoing research networks. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials. gov (NCT02498587).