Chapter 4 - Foodborne outbreaks

Abstract

The GenomeTrakr database is a web-based tool utilized by a network of state and federal public health laboratories that collect and share genomic and geographic data from foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter jejuni. It consists of automated data storage and analysis capabilities housed in public databases at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI, Pathogen Detection). The information is accessible to researchers and public health officials for the purposes of quickly detecting foodborne disease outbreaks, and then taking the necessary steps to curtail further transmission of the pathogens The system is intended to speed foodborne illness outbreak detection and subsequent investigations that may ultimately reduce foodborne illnesses and deaths. The emerging network of public health laboratories using GenomeTrakr is using whole genome DNA sequencing as a typing tool for foodborne pathogens.