Salmonella enterica Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis Clusters, Minnesota, USA, 2001–2007

摘要

We determined characteristics of Salmonella enterica pulsed-fi eld gel electrophoresis clusters that predict their being solved (i.e., that result in identifi cation of a confi rmed outbreak). Clusters were investigated by the Minnesota De-partment of Health by using a dynamic iterative model. Dur-ing 2001–2007, a total of 43 (12.5%) of 344 clusters were solved. Clusters of >4 isolates were more likely to be solved than clusters of 2 isolates. Clusters in which the fi rst 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 fi rst 3 case isolates were received over a period >14 days. If resources do not permit investigation of all S. enterica pulsed-fi eld gel electrophoresis clusters, in-vestigation of clusters of >4 cases and clusters in which the fi rst 3 case isolates were received at a public health labora-tory within 7 days may improve outbreak investigations