 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Leigh Ann Hawley, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, 1600 Clifton road, MS-C23, Atlanta, GA 30341, 404-639-4745, lhawley@cdc.gov
Infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae present a significant health burden in the United States and other countries and the last few decades have witnessed the emergence of S. pneumoniae resistance to antibiotics. Monitoring pneumococcal resistance in local communities is important to both the public health community and health care providers. Community-specific antimicrobial susceptibility data may be used to monitor trends among drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and to guide empiric therapy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors pneumococcal antimicrobial resistance through the Active Bacterial Core Surveillance (ABCs). This active, population based surveillance based on laboratory confirmed invasive disease is an accurate method of detecting the presence and monitoring the trend of disease, but it is labor-intensive and costly, making it an impractical option for many states.
Given that the need to identify feasible but scientifically accurate surveillance systems for wide scale implementation in local health departments is urgent, a family of studies conducted in ABCs have elicited a variety of alternatives to monitoring pneumococcal antimicrobial resistance, including the use of antibiograms and sentinel surveillance systems. CDC is also developing a manual for state health departments carrying out surveillance of S. pneumoniae with local health partners. It contains guidance on planning and implementing an assessment of surveillance methods that are accurate, timely, and nationally comparable, along with practical tools such as forms for data collection, laboratory surveys and reporting forms for data collection.
During this session the various surveillance options will be discussed, in addition to the development of the manual.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Surveillance, Infectious Diseases
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.