The New York State Emerging Infections Program

Laboratory Information and Links

The Wadsworth Center laboratories actively participate in the Emerging Infections Program (EIP). The close working relationship ensures that programmatic goals and objectives are fulfilled. The EIP collaborates often with the Clinical Bacteriology Laboratories, Parasitic Disease Laboratory, Calicivirus Laboratory, and the Viral Encehpalitis Laboratory.

The Clinical Bacteriology Laboratories participation in the NYSEIP includes:

• Confirmation of the identity and serotyping of enteric pathogens (Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7, other Shiga Toxin producing E. coli, Vibrio, Yersinia, and Listeria) submitted by the Rochester, Albany, and Buffalo area clinical laboratories.
• National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) (since January 1998). Currently the laboratory selects every 5^th Salmonella (non-typhoid) isolate, every 20^th E.coli O157:H7, every 20^th Campylobacter, and every 20^th Shigella isolate, and forwards the isolates to CDC for susceptibility testing. In addition, the laboratory submits all Salmonella serotype Typhi isolates, all Vibrio species isolates, and all Listeria monocytogenes.
• Participation in the FoodNet/NARMS Retail Food Study (since January 2003). The laboratory tests 10 samples each of ground beef, chicken, pork chops, and ground turkey on a monthly basis for Salmonella and Campylobacter. The meat samples are purchased from a variety of retail markets. Conventional culture, isolation, identification and serotyping methods are performed. In addition, PCR testing is conducted for Campylobacter species identification.
• Performing susceptibility testing on all Salmonella isolates (since May 2003). This internal study is in response to the increased prevalence of drug resistance of Salmonella.
• Membership in PulseNet: The NYS PulseNet program routinely analyzes all isolates of E.coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and all serotypes of Salmonella. Other bacterial pathogens are analyzed to provide assistance during outbreak investigations.
• Confirmation of the identity of invasive pathogens isolated from normally sterile body sites (Group A Streptococcus, Group B Streptococcus, H. influenza, N. meningitidis, and S. pneumoniae) and serogrouping of H. influenza and N. meningitidis submitted by the Rochester and Albany area laboratories.
• Submission on a monthly basis all ABC isolates to CDC and the University of Texas Health Science for further characterization and study.
• Access to lab testing data, provided through the Clinical Lab Information Management System (CLIMS).

For more information visit the following websites:

• Bacteriology Laboratories
• CDC - PulseNet
• CDC - National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS): Enteric Bacteria
• Encephalitis Program

The Calicivirus Laboratory participation in the NYSEIP includes:

• Examining the role of noroviruses in nonbacterial disease outbreaks. Wadsworth Center Viral Laboratory conducts bacterial pathogen-free stool specimen panel testing for norovirus and astrovirus by RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing, rotavirus by ELISA and enteric adenovirus (types 31, 40 and 41) and enterovirus by cell culture. Noroviruses cause acute gastrointestinal symptoms, are highly contagious, and are a major source of foodborne outbreaks.

Additional information about Noroviruses can be found on the New York State Department of Health website: Norwalk Virus Infection