Objectives

Overall Objectives

To determine the incidence and epidemiologic characteristics of invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, group A Streptococcus (GAS), group B Streptococcus (GAS), and Streptococcus pneumoniae in multiple large diverse U.S. populations
To determine molecular epidemiologic patterns and microbiologic characteristics of public health relevance for isolates causing the above invasive infections
To provide an infrastructure for further research, such as special studies aimed at identifying risk factors for disease, post-licensure evaluation

To determine the distribution of emm types and the association between specific emm types and disease severity in order to guide vaccine development
To track antimicrobial resistance among invasive GAS isolates
To identify potentially modifiable risk factors for community-acquired GAS infections and to identify potentially preventable GAS infections such as nosocomial (postpartum and post-surgical) infections or invasive infections in closed facilities (e.g., nursing homes)

To assess the impact and implementation of current perinatal GBS disease prevention guidelines and update the guidelines as warranted based on accumulated evidence from ABCs and other sources
To monitor the impact of intrapartum prophylaxis on GBS resistance and non-GBS neonatal sepsis
To characterize trends in invasive GBS disease epidemiology in other age groups, particularly late-onset neonatal disease and adult disease
To identify serotypes responsible for disease in order to guide vaccine development

To evaluate progress in the elimination of serotype b disease
To detect possible emergence of disease due to other capsular types
To determine appropriate verification and validation criteria for current and potential serotyping methods

To document the epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the United States and monitor trends over time
To evaluate the effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines and impact on disease burden
To monitor the molecular epidemiology of serogroup B meningococcal vaccine antigens using isolates of serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis collected through ABCs

To track emerging antimicrobial resistance in pneumococcal isolates
To evaluate the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on disease burden in children and on antimicrobial resistance among children
To evaluate the impact of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), as well as the existing polysaccharide vaccine, on disease burden and on antimicrobial resistance among adults

Page last reviewed: December 30, 2016
Page last updated: December 30, 2016
Content source:
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Bacterial Diseases