Abstract
Objectives: To demonstrate the performance of 53 laboratories required to submit 90% or more of their pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) subtyping results for Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E coli O157:H7) and Listeria monocytogenes (L monocytogenes) to the PulseNet national databases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within 4 working days of receiving isolates.
Methods: We examined data from 53 laboratories during 2013-2017 to ascertain whether E. coli O157:H7 and L monocytogenes PFGE data were reported to the PulseNet national databases within 4 working days.
Results: In the study period, 45 laboratories that submitted reports during the period (86.8%) met the target for timely submission of 10 606 (94.85%) E coli O157:H7 isolates into the PulseNet national database. For L monocytogenes isolates, 32 laboratories submitted reports (76.95%) that achieved timely submission of 3119 (93.35%) isolates.
Conclusions: This study uncovered areas for improvement to advance public health in the CDC-funded laboratories.