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A multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections occurred in the United States in June and July 1997. Two concurrent outbreaks were investigated through independent case-control studies in Michigan and [...]

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an emerging, healthcare-associated pathogen causing a high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. We report the draft genome sequence of E. meningoseptica Em3, isolated from sputum from a patient with multiple underlying diseases. The genome has a length of 4,037,922 bp, a GC-content 36.4%, and 3673 predicted protein-coding sequences. Average nucleotide identity analysis (>95%) assigned the bacterium to the species E. meningoseptica. Genome analysis showed presence of the curli formation and assembly operon and a gene encoding hemagglutinins, indicating ability to form biofilm. In vitro biofilm assays demonstrated that E. meningoseptica Em3 formed more biofilm than E. anophelis Ag1 and E. miricola Emi3, both lacking the curli operon. A gene encoding thiol-activated cholesterol-dependent cytolysin in E. meningoseptica Em3 (potentially involved in lysing host immune cells) was also absent in E. anophelis Ag1 and E. miricola Emi3. Strain Em3 showed α-hemolysin activity on blood agar medium, congruent with presence of hemolysin and cytolysin genes. Furthermore, presence of heme uptake and utilization genes demonstrated adaptations for bloodstream infections. Strain Em3 contained 12 genes conferring resistance to β-lactams, including β-lactamases class A, class B, and metallo-β-lactamases. Results of comparative genomic analysis here provide insights into the evolution of E. meningoseptica Em3 as a pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2004, the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) conducted a Comprehensive Laboratory Services Survey of State Public Health Laboratories (SPHLs) in order to establish the baseline data necessary for Healthy People 2010 Objective 23-13. This objective aims to measure the increase in the proportion of health agencies that provide or assure access to comprehensive laboratory services to support essential public health services. This assessment addressed only SPHLs and served as a baseline to periodically evaluate the level of improvement in the provision of laboratory services over the decade ending 2010. The 2004 survey used selected questions that were identified as key indicators of provision of comprehensive laboratory services. The survey was developed in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics, based on newly developed data sources. Forty-seven states and one territory responded to the survey. The survey was based on the 11 core functions of SPHLs as previously defined by APHL. The range of performance among individual laboratories for the 11 core functions (subobjectives) reflects the challenging issues that have confronted SPHLs in the first half of this decade. APHL is now working on a coordinated effort with other stakeholders to create seamless state and national systems for the provision of laboratory services in support of public health programs. These services are necessary to help face the threats raised by the specter of terrorism, emerging infections, and natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the functions and capabilities of State Public Health Laboratories (SPHL) in the U.S. Role of SPHL in developing health policies; Importance of high quality laboratory services to health care systems; Information on the funding of SPHL; Details on the National Laboratory System.

We conducted an epidemiologic study on the incidence of Salmonella infections and the associated risk factors in children aged <1 in the state of Michigan. Data on laboratory-confirmed cases of salmonellosis from 1995–2001 were abstracted from the records of Michigan Department of Community Health. We computed the incidence of the disease by sex, race, and area of residence and analyzed the relationships between selected demographic characteristics and Salmonella infection using Poisson regression analysis. Based on a total of 690 cases, an overall incidence of 73.3/100,000, with an incidence of 84.3/100,000 in male children and 64.9/100,000 in female children, were found. The final covariate-adjusted Poisson model showed that children aged 1–5 months are at higher risk for salmonellosis compared to children aged 6–11 months (RR: 1.80, CI: 1.54–2.10), African-American children are at higher risk than their Caucasian counterparts (RR: 2.63, CI: 2.16–3.19), and male children more commonly represented among cases (RR: 1.30, CI: 1.12–1.51). These findings should be considered by healthcare authorities in Michigan and in states with similar population demographics to investigate possible risk factors that may be associated with the high incidence of salmonellosis in African-American children and in children <6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging natural and man-made threats to the health of the nations population require development of a seamless laboratory network to address preventable health risks; this can be achieved only by defining the role of public health laboratories in public and private laboratory service delivery. Establishing defined core functions and capabilities for state public health laboratories will provide a basis for assessing and improving quality laboratory activities. Defining public health laboratory functions in support of public health programs is the beginning of the process of developing performance standards for laboratories, against which state public health laboratories, and eventually local public health and clinical laboratories, will establish and implement best laboratory practices. Public health is changing, and as apart of that change, public health laboratories must advocate for and implement improvements for public health testing and surveillance. These changes are outlined also in the Association of Public Health Laboratories consensus report (Association of Public Health Laboratories. Core functions and capabilities of state public health laboratories: a white paper for use in understanding the role and value of public health laboratories in protecting our nation's health. Washington, DC: Association of Public Health Laboratories, 2000).