Active Bacterial Core Surveillance (ABCs) Case Report Form

Use this form to report invasive bacterial disease, among Minnesota residents, caused by group A streptococcus, group B streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pneumoniae to the Minnesota Department of Health.. 

on this page:
Form
Instructions and frequently asked questions
Returning the completed form
Diseases to report on the ABCs form
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Form

Download a print version of the form:

Instructions and frequently asked questions

Instructions

Answers to frequently asked questions

  • Invasive infections include one of these organisms isolated from a normally sterile site. The ABCs form is only used for invasive infections, except as noted in the exceptions.

  • Case reporting is generated through microbiology labs, infection control practitioners, and physicians.

  • Use this form to report invasive bacterial disease cases, not the Yellow Card.


  • If you have questions regarding the ABCs Case Report Form, please call 651-201-5414.

"sterile site" is defined as:
  • Blood
  • CSF
  • Pleural fluid (includes chest fluid, thoracentesis fluid)
  • Peritoneal fluid (includes abdominal fluid, ascites)
  • Pericardial fluid
  • Bone (includes bone marrow)
  • Joint (includes synovial fluid; fluid, needle aspirate or culture of any specific joint: knee, ankle, elbow, hip, wrist)
  • Internal body sites (specimen obtained from surgery or aspirate from one of the following: lymph node, brain, heart, liver, spleen, vitreous fluid, kidney, pancreas, or ovary)

Exceptions:

  • Group A Streptococcus:
    • Muscle (tissue or biopsy that is surgically obtained)
    • Any site (even non-sterile) in a case of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) or necrotizing fasciitis (NF)
  • Group B Streptococcus:
    • If a fetal death occurs, also placenta or amniotic fluid

Diseases to report this form

Invasive bacterial pathogens (cultured from normally sterile sites) are reported on this form. Please note the exceptions:

  • Reporting Meningococcal Disease (Neisseria meningitidis)
    There are no exceptions for reporting Meningococcal Disease (Neisseria meningitidis).
    Call 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 immediately to report meningococcal disease.

  • Reporting Haemophilus influenzae Disease
    There are no exceptions for reporting Haemophilus influenzae.

  • Reporting Streptococcal Disease
    • Group B Streptococcus
      Exceptions: Group B Streptococcus is reportable if fetal death occurs and the site is placenta or amniotic fluid.
    • Group A Streptococcus
      Exceptions: Group A Streptococcus is reportable from surgically obtained muscle. This is also reportable from any site (even non-sterile sites) in a case of toxic shock syndrome or necrotizing fasciitis.
    • Streptococcus pneumoniae
      There are no exceptions for reporting Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Returning the completed forms

Please return the completed form to MDH:

  • By mail (please mark the envelope "confidential") to:
    Acute Disease Investigation and Control
    625 North Robert Street
    Post Office Box 64975
    St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

  • By fax to:
    651-201-5743

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Updated Tuesday, 12-Feb-2013 12:19:02 CST