National Retail Data Monitor (NRDM) is a public health surveillance tool that collects and analyzes daily sales data for over-the-counter (OTC) health-care products from >15,000 retail stores nationwide. This is a system developed by Real-Time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance Laboratory. NRDM has been in continuous operation since December 2002. The Washoe County District Health Department implemented this system in November 2003. During initial phase of implementation, NRDM was used retrospectively on as-needed basis. Since September 2004, monitoring NRDM for volume of OTC sales for anti-diarrhea medications became a daily routine.
Objective
The objective of this paper is to evaluate the role of NRDM in gastrointestinal illness outbreak investigation in Washoe County, Nevada. The evaluation will focus on usefulness of system, sensitivity, positive predictive value, representativeness, and timeliness followed by updated CDC guidelines.