Addressing emerging infections - The partnership between public health andprimary care

Surveillance data on emerging infections provide the basis for improved tre atment and institution of preventive measures. In the two examples provided , clinicians in the community worked in collaboration with public health ag encies. Clinicians provided critical clinical information and appropriate p atient isolates that allowed the state health department to identify the oc currence of an emerging infection. In turn, public health agencies supplied clinicians with information that enabled them to provide better patient ca re. Continued development of such clinical and public health partnerships is ne eded to address increasingly complex and numerous emerging infections. A ra pid response to disease outbreaks is essential, because experience has show n that microbial agents are quick at adapting and staying ahead of human in tervention.(4.)