Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comment
. 2015 Apr;53(4):1054-5.
doi: 10.1128/JCM.00349-15. Epub 2015 Feb 11.

Integration of whole-genome sequencing into infection control practices: the potential and the hurdles

Affiliations
Comment

Integration of whole-genome sequencing into infection control practices: the potential and the hurdles

Elizabeth Robilotti et al. J Clin Microbiol. 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Microbial whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is poised to transform many of the currently used approaches in medical microbiology. Recent reports on the application of WGS to understand genetic evolution and reconstruct transmission pathways have provided valuable information that will influence infection control practices. While this technology holds great promise, obstacles to full implementation remain. Two articles in this issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology (S. Octavia, Q. Wang, M. M. Tanaka, S. Kaur, V. Sintchenko, and R. Lan, J Clin Microbiol 53:1063-1071, 2015, doi:10.1128/JCM.03235-14, and S. J. Salipante, D. J. SenGupta, L. A. Cummings, T. A. Land, D. R. Hoogestraat, and B. T. Cookson, J Clin Microbiol 53:1072-1079, 2015, doi:10.1128/JCM.03385-14) describe the breadth of application of WGS to the field of clinical epidemiology.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment on

References

    1. Köser CU, Bryant JM, Becq J, Torok ME, Ellington MJ, Marti-Renom MA, Carmichael AJ, Parkhill J, Smith GP, Peacock SJ. 2013. Whole-genome sequencing for rapid susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis. N Engl J Med 369:290–292. doi:10.1056/NEJMc1215305. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Roetzer A, Diel R, Kohl TA, Ruckert C, Nubel U, Blom J, Wirth T, Jaenicke S, Schuback S, Rusch-Gerdes S, Supply P, Kalinowski J, Niemann S. 2013. Whole genome sequencing versus traditional genotyping for investigation of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis outbreak: a longitudinal molecular epidemiological study. PLoS Med 10:e1001387. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001387. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Harris KA, Underwood A, Kenna DT, Brooks A, Kavaliunaite E, Kapatai G, Tewolde R, Aurora P, Dixon G. 1 December 2014, posting date. Whole-genome sequencing and epidemiological analysis do not provide evidence for cross-transmission of Mycobacterium abscessus in a cohort of pediatric cystic fibrosis patients. Clin Infect Dis doi:10.1093/cid/ciu967. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Köser CU, Holden MT, Ellington MJ, Cartwright EJ, Brown NM, Ogilvy-Stuart AL, Hsu LY, Chewapreecha C, Croucher NJ, Harris SR, Sanders M, Enright MC, Dougan G, Bentley SD, Parkhill J, Fraser LJ, Betley JR, Schulz-Trieglaff OB, Smith GP, Peacock SJ. 2012. Rapid whole-genome sequencing for investigation of a neonatal MRSA outbreak. N Engl J Med 366:2267–2275. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1109910. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Snitkin ES, Zelazny AM, Thomas PJ, Stock F, Group NCSP, Henderson DK, Palmore TN, Segre JA. 2012. Tracking a hospital outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae with whole-genome sequencing. Sci Transl Med 4:148ra116. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3004129 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms