In This Issue • Update Meeting 2004 • Save the Date 2005 • PulseStar Award Winners • Update Meeting Evaluations • BioNumerics Workshops • Laboratory Profile: Iowa • Publications/Abstracts • Welcomes/Farewells VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 3 • SUMMER 2004 California State Public Health Laboratory. ceptibility testing on the isolates helped to 8th Annual PulseNet Keynote presentations by Dr. Craig Hedberg define the outbreak and reduce the epidemi- of the University of Minnesota School of ological investigation time. Susan Van Update Meeting, Public Health and Dr. Norman Crouch, Duyne and Jana Lockett, both from CDC, pre- Director of the Public Health Laboratory sented “Salmonella Newport MDR strains: April 2004, San Division at the Minnesota Department of Same or Different Clones?” further justifying Diego, CA Health, touched upon what makes PulseNet the use of BlnI patterns and antimicrobial work and how PulseNet has impacted food- resistance profiles to validate the slight differ- Cathy Adams1, Eleanor Lehnkering2, Jan O’Connell3, and Lori Yasuda2 borne disease outbreak recognition and ences observed in XbaI patterns. San Diego County Public Health Laboratory1, Los Angeles County Public investigation in the United States. Both Dave Boxrud of the Minnesota Health Laboratory2, California Department of Health Services, Microbial Diseases Laboratory3 Department of Health presented on a multi- The 8th Annual state outbreak of E.coli PulseNet Update O157:H7 involving Meeting was held vacuum-packed frozen from April 27 to steaks. Dave’s presen- April 30 at the tation reinforced the Holiday Inn on importance of real-time the Bay in San subtyping and timely Diego, California. WebBoard postings This year’s meet- and responses; this out- ing was hosted by break may not have the California Department of Health Services, speakers emphasized that that timely inte- been identified so quickly without the the Los Angeles County Public Health gration of surveillance, subtyping, and epi- PulseNet communication network. Laboratory, and the San Diego County Public demiologic evaluation is essential to maxi- Desmond Jennings of CDC gave an Health Laboratory. mize the effectiveness of PulseNet. A won- update on the status of the Shigella data- More than 170 participants gathered derful reception sponsored by Bio-Rad wel- base and was excited to announce that it is to support the theme of “Getting comed participants and set the mood for our now online. The Shigella database has a Connected.” This year’s meeting focused on “Getting Connected” theme. limited number of S. flexneri patterns; the ways to strengthen communication between The Wednesday morning session, patterns make up only 3% of the entire data- laboratorians and epidemiologists. The opened by Sharon Rolando of APHL, includ- base. Desmond asked that the PulseNet theme also emphasized getting connected ed an update on the 2002 PulseNet Annual participants be “Effective Detectives” and to local and national databases, the Federal Report, which has been posted to the provide as much information as possible PulseNet Laboratories, PulseNet PulseNet WebBoard. Next, Mike McDermott concerning serotyping and demographics International and other molecular typing net- of the Oklahoma Public Health Laboratory when submitting to the database. works, and finally, getting connected to presented on a “Possible Multidrug-Resistant Ana Maria Valle-Rivera, Texas next-generation subtyping methods. Outbreak of Salmonella Newport,” pointing Department of Health, and Paola Bordoni, The meeting opened with a welcome out that subtyping isolates with a second speech by Dr. Paul Kimsey, Director of the enzyme and performing antimicrobial sus- (Continued on page 2) APHL and PulseNet participants would like to thank the 2004 PulseNet Update Meeting sponsors Bio-Rad and Applied Maths. www.cdc.gov/pulsenet 1 TM News Update Meeting 2004 (Continued from page 1) PulseNet in outbreak investigations, conclud- PulseNet program. The FDA has a growing ing that PFGE results provide standard guid- database of foodborne pathogens, and has CDC, presented on a recent listeriosis out- ance on when to conduct additional genotype connected its various labs through the use of break involving Mexican queso fresco, an analyses and how to proceed with investiga- permanent bundle files. Kristy Kubota, CDC, unpasteurized soft cheese. Both presentations tions. Matt Richardson, Texas Department of presented on extending the network to include stressed the importance of posting patterns to Health, gave an entertaining presentation on Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis. The the WebBoard promptly to allow for real-time how connecting the laboratorians and the epi- dangerous pathogens surveillance network is queries, and showed a difference made by demiologists can result in efficient and timely working to develop databases for the typing rapid detection of a cryptic outbreak. The discovery of clusters and outbreaks. While and tracking of plague and tularemia. Texas epidemiological investigation resulted in describing the investigation of a typhoid fever The next speaker, Chien-Shun Chiou the alerting of local hospitals to the possibility outbreak in Texas linked to the consumption of from Taiwan, shared his experience with of more listeriosis cases and the recommenda- raw oysters, Matt stressed that the cooperation improving PFGE and the current status of molec- tion to the government to strictly enforce the between the epidemiologists and the laborato- ular subtyping in Taiwan. Paul Mola from ban on Mexican queso fresco. rians resulted in the timely detection and clos- Roche gave the inside scoop on restriction CDC’s Collette Fitzgerald presented, ing of the suspected oyster site. The afternoon enzyme chemistry. The late morning breakout “PFGE Subtyping of Campylobacter jejuni – session focused on sharing laboratory concerns What’s the Point? Experience from the PulseNet and ideas for improvement. C. jejuni Database,” which used two recent out- Many of the new features Kelley Hise from CDC introduced the breaks of Campylobacter to illustrate the impor- are geared directly toward theme for the afternoon—Getting Connected: tance of a standardized PulseNet PFGE protocol use in PulseNet’s gel analy- optimizing the national database. Susan and the use of real-time subtyping to greatly Hunter gave an update on improvements made facilitate the epidemiologic investigations of C. sis; 3-D models of banding, to PulseNet software, including the new master jejuni outbreaks. Collette also announced that a contingency tables, and scripts and bundle tools that will make analysis certification set of seven isolates is ready to be minimum spanning trees are and submitting of patterns easier. Robert Long sent out to requesting laboratories, and that the just a few of the tools high- of CDC did an excellent job explaining the col- Campylobacter database is scheduled to be lighted in the presentation. laboration between PulseNet and the online in summer 2004. Laboratory Response Network (LRN). Paul After lunch, Michael Lynch of CDC pre- ended with a poster session sponsored by Vauterin, Applied Maths, described new fea- sented on the jargon of the epidemiology Applied Maths. There were 13 posters pre- tures of BioNumerics version 3.5 and gave a world, a great lecture for lab folk! Roshan sented during the session. sneak preview of some features in version 4.0. Reporter, Los Angeles County Department of Thursday morning started with an Many of the new features are geared directly Health Services, stressed the need for appro- update by Emilio Esteban on how USDA-FSIS toward use in PulseNet’s gel analysis; 3-D mod- priate education and hygiene for food handlers laboratories are getting connected. Next, els of banding, contingency tables, and mini- who could potentially be the sources of wide- Thomas Donkar talked about ongoing activi- mum spanning trees are just a few of the tools spread outbreaks if they continue to work while ties at FDA, and how CVM, CFSAN, and highlighted in the presentation. Susan Van they are ill. Chris Braden from CDC spoke next ORA benefit from their participation in the Duyne and Christine Steward addressed the about molecular epidemiology and the role of issues surrounding gel quality and band mark- ing. The mismarking of bands is impacting the May surveillance of data and causing a negative 11 effect on the course of epidemiological investi- 2005 PULSENET UPDATE gations. Laboratories should strive to improve EETING TO BE ELD IN the quality of gels; better gels provide M H Save the date improved band resolution that eases the mark- SEATTLE, WA ing of the bands, and correct marking of the bands improves the surveillance of data. Ravi The 9th Annual PulseNet Pallipamu, Washington State Department of Update Meeting, hosted by the Health, gave a helpful talk on streamlining Washington State Department of Health, will be PFGE through the implementation of time-sav- held May 9th through 11th, 2005, at the Westin in Seattle, ing practices such as pre-aliquoting reagents. Washington. APHL and CDC thank the Washington State The third breakout session, which was Department of Health for its assistance in choosing the venue for given a rousing introduction by Laura our next meeting. We look forward to seeing all of the PulseNet Kornstein of New York City Department of participants at the meeting in Seattle. Participants may wish to Health, covered a range of topics, including consider attending the 7th International Meeting on Microbial analysis and