title: Prioritizing tuberculosis clusters by genotype for public health action, Washington, USA.
abstract: Groups of tuberculosis cases with indistinguishable Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes (clusters) might represent recent transmission. We compared geospatial concentration of genotype clusters with independent priority rankings determined by local public health officials; findings were highly correlated. Routine use of geospatial statistics could help health departments identify recent disease transmission.
authors.affiliation: Kitsap County Health District, Bremerton, WA 98337, USA. scott.lindquist@kitsappublichealth.org
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindquist
authors.forename: Sheanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Smita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Maryam B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oren
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005838:Genotype; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; TB; United States; Washington; clusters; disease outbreaks; genotype; genotyping; tuberculosis; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria