What We Do
IDPB's work has always been a critical component for the detection, research and surveillance of emerging and re-emerging pathogens.
This work is particularly important to three main areas in the study of disease:
- Diagnosis
- Outbreak investigations and surveillance
- Understanding pathogenesis (cause and process)
Pathologists and associated scientific teams work to fully understand a disease so that public health professionals can control it, treat it and prevent it.
Diagnosis
Reaching a definitive diagnosis for a disease or condition is essential for developing control and prevention measures, as well as understanding the disease process and proper treatment.
Diagnostic techniques in CDC's Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch (IDPB) include:
- Gross examination
- Microscopic evaluation
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
- Molecular evaluation - PCR and In situ hybridization (ISH)
- Microbiological methods
- Ultrastructural study
Learn more about IDPB's diagnostic techniques.
Outbreak Investigations and Surveillance
Infectious disease pathologists play an important role during disease outbreak investigations and in ongoing surveillance projects.
During an outbreak, making a diagnosis is a crucial part of the laboratory work done to establish the cause of a disease. If the test results are negative or inconclusive (or if tests fail), the diagnosis may rest solely on pathology results. This is often the case with emerging pathogens, which can be difficult to identify.
Results from IDPB can guide the direction of an outbreak investigation entirely.
Pathology is also important to disease surveillance efforts. Surveillance systems monitor the occurrence of disease, and an effective system can control and prevent an outbreak by picking up on early cases.
Pathology methods can be used to speed up monitoring and make the process simpler and more efficient.
Pathogenesis
Another of pathology's important contributions to the study of disease is determining pathogenesis, or the process and progression of a disease within its host.
IDPB employs modern molecular technology that can collect information at a cellular level. By doing so, pathologists can help to determine exactly how a disease develops and progresses.
IDPB's Contributions
IDPB has contributed to the identification, diagnosis and pathogenesis knowledge of many emerging infectious diseases and other diseases of public health importance.
Enterovirus 71 in Malaysia & Taiwan
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the United States
Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Investigation
Nipah virus in Malaysia & Singapore
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) worldwide
Transplant-associated infections - rabies, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV) and Balamuthia
West Nile virus in the United States
Read more about IDPB's contributions to disease diagnosis, surveillance, and pathogenesis.
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
