Abstract
We determined characteristics of Salmonella entericapulsed-fi eld gel electrophoresis clusters that predict their being solved (i.e., that result in identifi cation of a confirmed outbreak). Clusters were investigated by the Minnesota Department of Health by using a dynamic iterative model. During 2001-2007, a total of 43 (12.5%) of 344 clusters weresolved. Clusters of >4 isolates were more likely to be solved than clusters of 2 isolates. Clusters in which the first 3 case isolates were received at the Minnesota Department of Health within 7 days were more likely to be solved than were clusters in which the first 3 case isolates were received over a period >14 days. If resources do not permit investigation of all S. enterica pulsed-field gel electrophoresis clusters, investigationof clusters of >4 cases and clusters in which the first 3 case isolates were received at a public health laboratory within 7 days may improve outbreak investigations.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1678-1685 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Emerging infectious diseases |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2010 |