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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Early warning systems augmented by bacterial genomics

Vitali Sintchenko A B C D E F and Nadine Holmes A D E G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology – Public Health

B Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research – Pathology West

C NSW Health Pathology and Westmead Hospital

D Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity

E Sydney Medical School – Westmead, The University of Sydney
Tel: +61 2 9845 6255
Fax: + 61 2 9893 8659

F Email: vitali.sintchenko@sydney.edu.au

G Email: nadine.holmes@sydney.edu.au

Microbiology Australia 35(1) 44-48 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA14012
Published: 17 February 2014

Abstract

The number of microbial threats – in the form of newly identified pathogens, infections crossing the species barrier to people, diseases adapting to new environments, transmissible drug-resistance genes and microbial agents appearing in more virulent forms – has multiplied to an unprecedented degree. The epidemiology of well-known infectious diseases has also been changing due to the globalisation of trade and in response to immunisation campaigns. This evolving epidemiology presents new challenges to countries' healthcare systems, in terms of both understanding and monitoring of determinants of infections, as well as in terms of service provision and the implementation of appropriate prevention measures. In this article we discuss the concepts of early warning systems and genome sequencing for public health laboratory surveillance and outbreak detection and response. The added value of these new means of surveillance can be seen when clinical and public health laboratory data is harmonised, aggregated and shared.


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