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Volume 12, Number 7—July 2006
Books and Media

Gastroenteritis at a University in Texas: An Epidemiologic Case Study

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers, Atlanta, GA, 2005
Format: CD-Rom. Price: $30 from the Public Health Foundation or download at no charge from http://www.cdc.gov/epicasestudies

This CD-ROM is an important addition to case exercises in field epidemiology that serve to educate when actual participation in a field investigation is not possible or practical. The authors have prepared a case exercise based on an actual field investigation with real data that have been put together in a meaningful and effective way. The use of an epidemic of gastroenteritis is a cutting-edge element, since foodborne disease is a major public health problem today. The outbreak occurs on a college campus, which lends an air of verisimilitude, and the causative agent, norovirus, is a genuine public health threat.

This reviewer had a number of specific editorial recommendations for the authors that could enhance forthcoming versions. These suggestions included inserting a case definition in the investigation outline; adding the role of the state laboratory; consistently labeling outbreak, epidemic, and epidemic curve throughout the program; clarifying the rationale for limiting the outbreak to the university; further refining methods for the study and controls; using 2×2 tables to illustrate epidemiologic ratios; and expanding the employee training plan.

Overall, these types of training aids are needed as we attempt to further expose public health workers to field investigations so that they can conduct investigations effectively. The reference to additional educational material throughout the steps is a well-conceived and appropriate aspect of the investigation. The narrative information, questions, and explanations are appropriate and flow smoothly.

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Philip S. Brachman*Comments to Author 
Author affiliation: *Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

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Cite This Article

DOI: 10.3201/eid1207.060457

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Table of Contents – Volume 12, Number 7—July 2006

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Comments

Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Philip S. Brachman, Rollins School of Public Health, Grace Crum Rollins Building, 1518 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA

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Page created: December 19, 2011
Page updated: December 19, 2011
Page reviewed: December 19, 2011
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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