Molecular epidemiology in the public health and hospital environments.
The increasing speed and ease of genomic sequencing coupled with available funding to sequence multiple, unrelated strains of the same species will lead inevitably to the identification of candidate genes that can be used as molecular typing tools (MLST, SLST, microarray approach). However, it is important to note that even the most sophisticated typing tool should never replace a full epidemiologic investigation in which all available information is taken into account. Nevertheless, the typing methods discussed in this article and those yet to be developed have significantly improved the quality of health care worldwide.
Fey
Paul D
PD
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985400 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5400, USA. pfey@unmc.edu
Rupp
Mark E
ME
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods*; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*