title: Strengthening the Reporting of Molecular Epidemiology for Infectious Diseases (STROME-ID): an extension of the STROBE statement.
abstract: Molecular data are now widely used in epidemiological studies to investigate the transmission, distribution, biology, and diversity of pathogens. Our objective was to establish recommendations to support good scientific reporting of molecular epidemiological studies to encourage authors to consider specific threats to valid inference. The statement Strengthening the Reporting of Molecular Epidemiology for Infectious Diseases (STROME-ID) builds upon the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) initiative. The STROME-ID statement was developed by a working group of epidemiologists, statisticians, bioinformaticians, virologists, and microbiologists with expertise in control of infection and communicable diseases. The statement focuses on issues relating to the reporting of epidemiological studies of infectious diseases using molecular data that were not addressed by STROBE. STROME-ID addresses terminology, measures of genetic diversity within pathogen populations, laboratory methods, sample collection, use of molecular markers, molecular clocks, timeframe, multiple-strain infections, non-independence of infectious-disease data, missing data, ascertainment bias, consistency between molecular and epidemiological data, and ethical considerations with respect to infectious-disease research. In total, 20 items were added to the 22 item STROBE checklist. When used, the STROME-ID recommendations should advance the quality and transparency of scientific reporting, with clear benefits for evidence reviews and health-policy decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Coordination Section, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Struelens
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Coordination Section, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palm
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Healthcare Associated Infection, Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Judith R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Glynn
authors.affiliation: Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary's University, London, UK.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Immunisation, Hepatitis, and Blood Safety, Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sonnenberg
authors.affiliation: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maccannell
authors.affiliation: Modelling and Economics Department, Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charlett
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics Unit, Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vineis
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: i.abubakar@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abubakar
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*