2007 - Alabama Department of Public Health

ureau of clinical laboratories
analysis, volatile organic compound analysis, and
quantitation of abrine and ricinine. Personnel in this
branch attended a weeklong convention sponsored by
the Laboratory Reference Network and the CDC. The
convention provided an opportunity for enhancement
of analytical skills and knowledge base, along with a
forum for addressing laboratory related problems for
emergency preparedness. The lab collaborates with
interdepartmental and intradepartmental agencies, as
well as other state departments of health for methods
availability, development, and validation.
Microbiology Division
The Microbiology Division continues to maintain its
programs through state and grant funding. The division
is especially supported by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention for emergency preparedness and
laboratory epidemiological surveillance.
Bioterrorism Section
Five environmental specimens (white powders and
threatening letters) were tested using CDC rapid
molecular methods. None were found to contain
biological agents. Noteworthy is that a clinical specimen
was received that tested positive for vaccinia. The section
participated in the College of American Pathologists’
Laboratory Preparedness Survey and the Varicella
Zoster Virus Direct Fluorescent Antibody Proficiency
Testing Programs. It also participated in the CDC BT
Proficiency Testing Program for identifying and ruling
out Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia mallei,
Coxiella burnetii, Brucella species, Influenza A H5,
Vesicular/Pustular Rash Illness, Yersinia pestis, and
multiple agents.
The bioterrorism laboratory staff conducted three
laboratory preparedness wet workshops for sentinel
laboratories with 25 participants, produced one
newsletter publication, and conducted four onsite visits
to the sentinel laboratories this past fiscal year. The
laboratory, in cooperation with the Center for Emergency
Preparedness and the Division of Epidemiology,
sponsored a statewide influenza conference titled,
Pandemic Influenza: Rapid Response Required, with
approximately 300 participants from around the state.
Reference Bacteriology Section
There was a slight increase in the number of
Escherichia coli 0157:H7 isolates from the previous year,
49 confirmed cases compared to 42 in the previous year.
There were two known outbreaks of Escherichia coli
0157:H7, one in Huntsville and the other in Birmingham.
The number of non-0157: H7 Shiga-toxin producing
Escherichia coli continues to increase. There were 47
Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli isolated from
broth cultures during this period. One small outbreak
in Jefferson County was attributed to Escherichia coli
026. There were five Vibrio species, seven Neisseria
meningitidis, and 21 Haemophilus influenzae specimens
submitted for confirmation. A new surveillance program
for Bordetella pertussis was initiated during the summer.
To date no positive cultures have been recovered from the
surveillance cases, but there have been four confirmed
Bordetella pertussis cases from other sources.
Two foodborne illness cases were investigated. During
one investigation, Salmonella serotype newport was
isolated from all of the patients’ specimens submitted.
Unfortunately, no food related to this case was submitted
for testing. No pathogens were isolated in the second
investigation.
Parasitology Section
Parasitology testing at the Bureau of Clinical
Laboratories was temporarily suspended in July after
the untimely death of the parasitologist. Up until that
time, three cases of Malaria, 10 Giardia lamblia, one
Schistosoma mansoni, and one case of Isospora belli
were detected. Currently, the Georgia State Public
Health Laboratory is temporarily performing routine
parasitology testing for Alabama’s State Laboratory, but
the section continues to find the DPDx telediagnosis
system a useful tool with support of the CDC in
identifying challenging specimens.
Enteric Section
The Enteric section received a total of 2,092 specimens
in fiscal year 2007. This was a 57 percent increase in the
total specimens over 2006. There were two Salmonella
typhi isolated during the year and one Salmonella
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