title: Stopping outbreaks with real-time genomic epidemiology.
abstract: One of the most successful public health applications of next-generation sequencing is whole-genome sequencing of pathogens to not only detect and characterize outbreaks, but also to inform outbreak management. Using genomics, infection control teams can now track, with extraordinarily high resolution, the transmission events within outbreaks, opening up possibilities for targeted interventions. These successes are positioning the emerging field of genomic epidemiology to replace traditional molecular epidemiology, and increasing our ability to limit the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms.
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4 Canada ; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5 Canada.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4 Canada ; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gardy