Basic principles of MiBa
MiBa is rooted in the basic principles of automated, real-time data collection, easy and secure access to displaying test results and proactive use of data for infection control.
Samples from hospitals and general practices are analysed in the departments of clinical microbiology (DCM). The IT systems of the laboratories are linked to MiBa, ensuring that a copy of all test results is automatically sent to MiBa. Test results from the reference laboratories of the SSI are also sent to MiBa, and MiBa receives COVID-19 test results from Testcenter Danmark and private entities.
All data exchange occurs within Sundhedsdatanettet and by use of national MedCom standards.
Access to test results
Cross-sector access to microbiological test results for healthcare staff through MiBa is of considerable importance for diagnostics and patient treatment.
MiBa is integrated into health IT systems nationally, regionally and locally. In addition to access to test results, integrations may include the MiBAlert function.
MiBa test results are available for citizens via Sundhed.dk and mobile solutions such as MinSundhed.
In order for doctors or other healthcare staff to access patient data in MiBa, the staff accessing data needs to be treating the patient in question. Furthermore, all MiBa search queries are logged.
MiBAlert
The purpose of MiBAlert is to identify patients harbouring particular microorganisms upon admission to allow quick evaluation of whether they should be isolated or receive, e.g., special antibiotic treatment.
Patients with, e.g., particular multidrug-resistant microorganisms must be identified quickly as they may otherwise infect other patients or receive sub-optimal treatment. Thus, MiBAlert is an important tool in the prevention of infections with resistant bacteria in hospitals.
The technical principle
MiBAlert automatically initiates a search in MiBa using a predefined search algorithm. The result of this search is fed back into EPJ, which, within milliseconds, interprets the results and displays an icon in the EPJ user interface.
The status visually changes the MiBAlert icon (red indicates an alarm and green indicates no alarm). In case of an alarm, MiBa returns a link that leads the user back to MiBa. Here, the test results that triggered the alert are displayed.
MiBAlert setup
A MiBAlert algorithm is specifically configured to the system and region where the MiBAlert will be used and must be tailored to the regional hygiene instructions and sampling basis. The clinicians have access to the relevant guidelines via links in MiBAlert.
The algorithms may consist of combinations of, e.g., culture growth identification (microorganism) and resistance profile or demonstration of a microbial property. In select cases, it is also possible to include the result obtained. For each algorithm, the user needs to specify how far back in time their algorithm should look for the patients’ test results. This allows users to configure MiBAlert to raise an alarm for a particular infection from which the patient may have suffered, e.g., within the past two years.