NEOREG: Design and implementation of an online Neonatal Registration System to access, follow and analyse the data of newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Abstract

SummaryToday's registration of newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is still performed on paper-based forms in Flanders, Belgium. This process has a large administrative impact. It is important that all screening tests are registered to have a complete idea of the impact of cCMV. Although these registrations are usable in computerized data analysis, this data is not available in a format to perform electronic processing. An online Neonatal Registry (NEOREG) System was designed and developed to access, follow and analyse data of newborns remotely. It allows remote access and monitoring by the physician. The Java Enterprise layered application provides patients' diagnostic registration and treatment follow-up through a web interface and using document forms in Portable Document Format (PDF) which incorporate all elements from existing forms. Forms are automatically processed to structured EHRs. Modules are included to perform statistical analysis. The design was driven by extendibility, security and usability requirements. The website load time, throughput and execution time of data analysis were evaluated in detail. The NEOREG system is able to replace the existing paper-based CMV records.

Recurrent maternal CMV infection associated with symptomatic congenital infection: results from a questionnaire study in Portugal

“…Population surveillance systems for congenital CMV infection, intended to register all confirmed cases, are crucial to evaluate the impact of this infection. Different approaches for the registry of cases have been used, including national programmes and the search of databases on hospital records 4–7. Although under-reporting is common in these surveillance systems, valuable information can be obtained from the registry of congenital infections.…”