Active Bacterial Core Surveillance

Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) is a population-based surveillance system conducted in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The surveillance system has two primary objectives in New Mexico:

1. To determine the incidence and epidemiologic characteristics of invasive bacterial disease due to Group A Streptococcus, Group B Streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
2. To provide an infrastructure for further research, such as special studies aimed at identifying patient risk
   factors for disease and for vaccine evaluation.

Methods

After a resident of New Mexico with an invasive bacterial infection is identified, the ABCs staff complete an investigation through the review of hospital and commercial laboratory data. Additionally, bacterial isolates from the patient are sent to CDC for additional evaluation such as antibiotic resistance testing. Finally, New Mexico’s information is then used in combination with data from other states to better understand invasive bacterial infections throughout the country.

Program History

ABCs was initially established in four states in 1995 and currently operates in 10 EIP sites across the United States, representing a population of over 38 million persons. New Mexico joined the ABCs network in 2003 and began systematically collecting data through active surveillance in 2004. This work is being done through a collaboration of the New Mexico Department of Health and the University of New Mexico.

Special Projects

NMEIP has participated in many special projects. Some projects focus on disease trends and patient risk factors for disease, while others focus on high-risk groups like pregnant women or vaccine effectiveness.

Please visit the following resources for more information.

• CDC Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Special Studies
• CDC Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Isolate Bank

Data Use

For data pertaining to ABCs pathogens please visit the New Mexico New Mexico Indicator-Based Information System (NM-IBIS) website.

For more information please call the Reporting & Surveillance hotline at 1-833-796-8773 and ask for the New Mexico Emerging Infections Program.