THE EMERGING INFECTIONS NETWORK - A NEW VENTURE FOR THE INFECTIOUS-DISEASES-SOCIETY-OF-AMERICA

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has launched an Emerg ing Infections Network (EIN). This network of infectious diseases cons ultants was conceived as a sentinel system to monitor new or resurgent infectious diseases in a way that would complement other public healt h surveillance efforts. A pilot study with 169 participants recruited from 32 of the IDSA's state and regional societies confirmed the feasi bility and potential value of this network. More than 300 infectious d iseases consultants are currently participating in the IDSA EIN. Futur e plans include aggressive probing for clinical experiences that indic ate or suggest the presence of emerging infections, initiation of pros pective studies for selected infectious diseases, and other activities designed both to benefit consultants in infectious diseases and to ma ke use of their services.