Addressing emerging infections. The partnership between public health and primary care physicians

Abstract

In response to concerns about emerging infections, the Minnesota Department of Health, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developed a model emerging infections program in 1995. The authors' experience with the program has demonstrated the key role clinicians have as partners with public health agencies in identifying and reporting disease cases, educating patients about infectious risks, and preventing emerging infections. This partnership is well illustrated by two examples from Minnesota: a recent outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis infection in a rural area and a laboratory surveillance study of invasive and drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infections in a metropolitan area.