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Neisseria is a genus containing diverse organisms; most are rarely pathogenic. N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae are the most clinically relevant species. The polysaccharide capsule is the most critical meningococcal [...]

One objective of the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to provide training opportunities in infectious disease epidemiology. To determine the extent of training performed since the program's inception in 1995, we reviewed training efforts at the 10 EIP sites. By 2015, all sites hosted trainees (most were graduate public health students and physicians) who worked on a variety of infectious disease surveillance and epidemiologic projects. Trainee projects at all sites were used for graduate student theses or practicums. Numerous projects resulted in conference presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Local public health and health care partners have also benefitted from EIP presentations and training. Consideration should be given to standardizing and documenting EIP training and to sharing useful training initiatives with other state and local health departments and academic institutions.

Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) was established in 1995 as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emerging Infections Program (EIP) network to assess the extent of invasive bacterial infections of public health importance. ABCs is distinctive among surveillance systems because of its large, population-based, geographically diverse catchment area; active laboratory-based identification of cases to ensure complete case capture; detailed collection of epidemiologic information paired with laboratory isolates; infrastructure that allows for more in-depth investigations; and sustained commitment of public health, academic, and clinical partners to maintain the system. ABCs has directly affected public health policies and practices through the development and evaluation of vaccines and other prevention strategies, the monitoring of antimicrobial drug resistance, and the response to public health emergencies and other emerging infections.

To determine frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections caused by strains typically associated with community-acquired infections (USA300) among persons with healthcare-related risk factors (HRFs), we evaluated surveillance data. Of patients with HRFs, 18%-28% had a "community-associated" strain, primarily USA300; of patients without HRFs, 26% had a "healthcare-associated" strain, typically USA100.

The incidence of meningococcal disease and Neisseria meningitidis strain distribution vary over time, within and between countries and regions (1). Six serogroups (A, B, C W, X, and Y) account [...]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emerging Infections Program (EIP) network conducts population- and laboratory-based surveillance for foodborne, health care-associated, respiratory, and invasive bacterial pathogens of public health [...]

In 1994, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the domestic Emerging Infections Program (EIP) as part of the response to the 1992 Institute of Medicine report recommending [...]

The last epidemic of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C meningococcal disease in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, occurred in 1994. It was caused by C:2b:P1.10 isolates that belonged to cluster A4 [...]

Salmonella enterica bacteria have become increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents, partly as a result of genes carried on integrons. Clonal expansion and horizontal gene transfer may contribute to the spread [...]

Limited information exists on the incidence and characteristics of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infections among residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). We reviewed cases of invasive GAS infections occurring [...]

Invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections can be fatal and can occur in healthy children. A case-control study identified factors associated with pediatric disease. Case-patients were identified when Streptococcus pyogenes [...]

After increasing from 1995 to 1999, invasive erythromycin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae rates per 100,000 decreased 53.6% in children from Baltimore, Maryland (USA) from 1999 to 2001, which was partially attributed to [...]

During the 1990s in Maryland, the incidence of meningococcal infection increased among those 15-24 years of age, in large part because of serogroup C strains. The incidence of serogroup Y [...]

We conducted a case-control study to identify risk factors for invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infections, which can be fatal. Case-patients were identified when Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from a [...]

Electronic laboratory-based reporting, developed by the UPMC Health System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was evaluated to determine if it could be integrated into the conventional paper-based reporting system. We reviewed reports of [...]

The first four cases of Candida dubliniensis fungemia in North America have been documented. The organism has been isolated from the bloodstream of an HIV-infected person for the first time. Incidence of the disease is not known, but it is now known that C. dubliniensis can cause bloodstream infection., We report the first four North American cases of Candida dubliensis fungemia, including the first isolation of this orgasm from the bloodstream of an HIV-infected person. All isolates were susceptible [...]

The species Neisseria meningitidis includes successful commensal strains and devastating human pathogens (1-3). Invasive strains produce a polysaccharide capsule, which is essential for virulence (3) and is a target for [...]

Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) is a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several state health departments and universities participating in the Emerging Infections Program Network. [...]

To the Editor: Rates of resistance to various antimicrobial drugs are rapidly increasing in Escherichia coli, not only in health care settings but also in the community. The food supply [...]

The expansion of hypervirulent sequence type 4821 clonal complex (CC4821) lineage Neisseria meningitidis bacteria has led to a shift in meningococcal disease epidemiology in China, from serogroup A (MenA) to MenC. Knowledge of the evolution and genetic origin of the emergent MenC strains is limited. In this study, we subjected 76 CC4821 isolates collected across China during 1972-1977 and 2005-2013 to phylogenetic analysis, traditional genotyping, or both. We show that successive recombination events within genes encoding surface antigens and acquisition of quinolone resistance mutations possibly played a role in the emergence of CC4821 as an epidemic clone in China. MenC and MenB CC4821 strains have spread across China and have been detected in several countries in different continents. Capsular switches involving serogroups B and C occurred among epidemic strains, raising concerns regarding possible increases in MenB disease, given that vaccines in use in China do not protect against MenB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections caused by strains typically associated with community-acquired infections (USA300) among persons with healthcare-related risk factors (HRFs), we evaluated surveillance data. Of patients with HRFs, 18%-28% had a "community-associated" strain, primarily USA300; of patients without HRFs, 26% had a "healthcare-associated" strain, typically USA100. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which examined the prevalence of cephalosporin-resistent Escherichia coli among retail poultry products in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From February-April 2011, 104 raw ground meat products from three local grocery stores served as samples. The types of meat items purchased for the sampling process include chicken, turkey, lamb, pork and beef. The disk diffusion method was employed in this study to determine antimicrobial drug susceptibility. Results of the study showed that cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli has an 8.7% overall prevalence in the meat samples. It was isolated in 31.8% of chicken, 10.0% of turkey and 2.3% of pork samples. CMY-2 β-lactamase was found in all isolates.