The PulseNet USA WebBoard – The PulseNet USA WebBoard – A Rapid Alert and Information A Rapid Alert and Information

Sharing SystemSharing System

Peter Gerner-SmidtCDC, Atlanta, USA

5th Annual Meeting PulseNet America Latina, October 23, 2007

Communication Within PulseNetCommunication Within PulseNet

• Submission of patterns to a PulseNet Server– By email to the database management– By uploading the patterns directly to the server

• Discussion forum– The WebBoard

• The PulseNet Web-site– www.cdc.gov/pulsenet

• The PulseNet Newsletter• Meetings – workshops – training courses• Direct communication between participants

What is the WebBoard?What is the WebBoard?

• The PulseNet ListservThe PulseNet Listserv– A closed non-moderated electronic discussion

forum (password protected)– Available to PulseNet participants and

foodborne epidemiologists – Rapid alert system for outbreaks of foodborne

infection– Discussion and information sharing forum

PulseNet WebBoard

• All participants at the same time• PulseNet participants get access to the

WebBoard by sending an email to the PFGE mailbox (PFGE@cdc.gov)– Must sign a non-disclosure agreement for access

• PulseNet participants approve access to the WebBoard of foodborne epidemiologists in their region – Foodborne epidemiologists must also sign a non-

disclosure agreement for access

PulseNet WebBoard Entry Screen

PulseNet WebBoard Entry Screen- The alternate (blue) version

A third version is under way and will be implemented in 2008

WebBoard Conferences

Some of the conferences on the PulseNet USA WebBoard

Update Meeting 2006

General PulseNet Information

Important PulseNet Documents

PulseNet QA-QC Manual

Salmonella Cluster Alert

Cluster Detection

1. A cluster is detected – By PulseNet (state lab or CDC)– By epidemiologists (state or CDC)

2. Cluster is posted on WebBoard3. CDC database manager verifies patterns and assigns

outbreak code– Patterns that are not verified by CDC database

team should only be reported as “possible matches”4. CDC database manager posts results to WebBoard

and notifies epi liaison at CDC5. PulseNet labs respond to posting6. CDC database manager updates as necessary

WebBoard Alert Protocol• For initial postings for clusters or outbreaks

– Submit information to the appropriate PulseNet database or

– E-mail to the PulseNet database manager (PFGE@CDC.gov) and

– Then submit information to the WebBoard• Initial postings should contain this information:

– State(s) included in cluster– Serotype and Shiga toxin type for E. coli (O157:H7 or other STEC)– TIFF must be included with lane identification (enzyme and standard

lanes) indicate if second enzyme is pending– PulseNet bundle file (if available)– Identify lanes that contain cluster isolates– Additional information such as more isolates pending, isolation date,

frequency of pattern and epi information

WebBoard Alert Protocol:Response Postings

• For response postings: number of “matches” to the cluster pattern within the past 60 days for E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio and Campylobacter or 120 days for Listeria

• Isolate numbers and/or TIFF name should also be provided in the response posting

E. coliE. coli O157:H7 in Vacuum-packed Steaks, 2003 O157:H7 in Vacuum-packed Steaks, 2003WebBoard: Within 5 days there were 20 response postings.

Steak Outbreak-Associated E. coli O157:H7 Cases, 2003

1

1

8

1

1

11

1

2

1

11

1

1

1

8

USDA Investigation of Processing Plant

Flavoring Injection and/or Needle-Tenderizing Transferred E. coli O157:H7 to the Interior of the Steaks.

Recall occurred 12 days after WebBoard postingRecall occurred 12 days after WebBoard posting

PulseNet Outbreak Codes• Basic code

– <Date: yymm><Geographic location><serotype (Salmonella and Shigella)> <number of outbreak in month>

– In some cases the basic code will include:• “ml” to indicate multi-locational (multi-state)• “c” to indicate that it is a cluster that has not yet been

confirmed by epis as an outbreak• “?” to indicate that the status is not firmly established

• PulseNet guidelines for naming outbreak codes/clusters is posted on the WebBoard under the conference “Important PulseNet Documents”

PulseNet Outbreak Codes• Examples:

– 0406FL-1c is the first cluster that was discovered in Florida in June 2004

– If this cluster becomes an outbreak, the code will become 0406FL-1

– If this outbreak becomes multi-state, the code will become 0406FL-1ml

– If another cluster appears in FL during the same month, the second cluster code will be 0406FL-2c

Pulling it all TogetherRecommendations• Request WebBoard access via PulseNet lab• Unsubscribe to mailing lists to avoid receiving hundreds of

emails• Check WebBoard daily if involved in an outbreak

– make note of outbreak code

How it works at CDC• Database manager sends updated spreadsheets to PulseNet

liaison and copies CDC epidemiologists• CDC epidemiologists send updates to the PulseNet liaison and

copies database manager

Comments on WebBoard

• We encourage PulseNet participants to use the WebBoard – Queries – Pattern comparisons– Troubleshooting assistance– Share unusual findings

• Remember: replies to the WebBoard will go to all WebBoard members on the conference--not just the message originator

PulseNet USA Web-SitePulseNet USA Web-Sitewww.CDC.gov/pulsenetwww.CDC.gov/pulsenet

PulseNet USA NewsletterPulseNet USA Newsletter

Questions?

Thank you!