title: Calling all Campy--how routine investigation and molecular characterization impacts the understanding of campylobacteriosis epidemiology--Alaska, United States, 2004-2013.
abstract: Unlike most jurisdictions in the United States, Alaska performs pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) characterization of all Campylobacter sp. isolates at the state public health laboratory--a practice that started in 2002. Moreover, in order to ensure early detection and response to campylobacteriosis outbreaks, the Alaska Section of Epidemiology has investigated all incident Campylobacter sp. case reports since 2004. This report summarizes the public health impact of routine incident case investigations and molecular characterization of all Campylobacter sp. isolates. In sum, we found that these efforts have contributed to better characterization of the epidemiology of campylobacteriosis in Alaska, and facilitated more rapid outbreak detection, more public health investigations, and earlier public health interventions.
authors.affiliation: Alaska Division of Public Health,Section of Epidemiology,Anchorage,AK,USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Castrodale
authors.affiliation: Alaska Division of Public Health,Section of Epidemiology,Anchorage,AK,USA.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Provo
authors.affiliation: Alaska Division of Public Health,Section of Laboratories,Anchorage,AK,USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.affiliation: Alaska Division of Public Health,Section of Epidemiology,Anchorage,AK,USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Bacterial infections; Campylobacter; bacterial typing; community outbreaks; foodborne infections