PulseNet: The Molecular Subtyping Network for Foodborne Bacterial Disease Surveillance, United States

Abstract

PulseNet, the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several state health department laboratories to facilitate subtyping bacterial foodborne pathogens for epidemiologic purposes. PulseNet, which began in 1996 with 10 laboratories typing a single pathogen (Escherichia coli O157:H7), now includes 46 state and 2 local public health laboratories and the food safety laboratories of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Four foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157:H7; nontyphoidal Salmonella serotypes, Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella) are being subtyped, and other bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms will be added soon.

Web-based Surveillance and GlobalSalmonellaDistribution, 2000–2002

“…The country databank could include data from such subtyping efforts. PFGE subtyping data are exchanged in North American between PulseNet USA and PulseNet Canada ( 12 ). PulseNet International is an affiliate member of WHO Global Salm-Surv, and the networks are coordinating their efforts to ensure synergy.…”

Vigilancia de laboratorio de enfermedad meningocóccica invasora en Chile, 2006-2012

“…El estudio del subtipo genético se realizó con electroforesis en gel de campo pulsado (EGCP) para establecer relaciones filogenéticas 38,39 , y con secuenciamiento de multilocus (en inglés multilocus sequence typing-MLST) que permite identificar y diferenciar los distintos linajes genéticos que componen la estructura poblacional en una base de datos (http://pubmlst.org/). En N. meningitidis se analizan 7 locis: abcZ, adk, aroE, fumC, gdh, pdh y pgm …”

Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis forSalmonellaInfection Surveillance, Texas, USA, 2007

“…State and local laboratories upload PFGE patterns to the national CDC PulseNet database. Indistinguishable patterns at the national level might represent a large multistate outbreak ( 4 – 6 ). …”

“…Because PFGE patterns obtained by a local health department may appear to be sporadic or unrelated to a more generalized process ( 2 ), local public health practitioners may gain a larger perspective by receiving notification of state and national clusters ( 4 , 5 ). During 2002–2005, before this study was conducted but during a time HDHHS was in routine communication with PulseNet, most local PFGE patterns were not recognized as linked to statewide or nationwide clusters.…”