The United Kingdom Field Epidemiology Training Programme: meeting programme objectives.

IntroductionMost evaluations of field epidemiology training programmes (FETP) are limited to process measures, but stakeholders may need evidence of impact.ObjectiveTo ascertain if the United Kingdom (UK) FETP met its objectives to: (i) strengthen capacity and provision of national epidemiology services, (ii) develop a network of highly skilled field epidemiologists with a shared sense of purpose working to common standards and (iii) raise the profile of field epidemiology through embedding it into everyday health protection practice.MethodsThe evaluation consisted of: (i) focus groups with training site staff, (ii) individual interviews with stakeholders and (iii) an online survey of FETP fellows and graduates.

Seroprevalence and Determinants of Immunity to Diphtheria for Children Living in Two Districts of Contrasting Incidence During an Outbreak in East Java, Indonesia.

Background: In 2012, an ongoing outbreak of diphtheria in Indonesia was focused in the province of East Java. There was a need to assess vaccine coverage and immunity gaps in children.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional seroprevalence and vaccine coverage survey of children 1-15 years of age in 2 districts of East Java: one of high incidence (on the island of Madura) and one of low incidence (on the mainland).

Evaluation of a systematic postal screening and treatment service for genital Chlamydia trachomatis, with remote clinic access via the internet: a cross-sectional study, East of England.

Objective: England's National Chlamydia Screening Programme provides opportunistic testing for all 15-24-year-olds in healthcare and non-healthcare settings. The authors undertook an evaluation of a population service-based postal chlamydia screening and treatment service, with registration and access to the service via the internet, in order to target screening interventions more effectively in future.

Methods: Individuals aged between 18 and 24 years, within the North East Essex Primary Care Trust, were identified for chlamydia screening by the service between 1 December 2008 and 31 January 2009.

The risk to infants from nosocomial exposure to tuberculosis.

We undertook a systematic literature and database review for reports of nosocomial exposures of infants less than 24 months of age to tuberculosis. We found 7 instances of transmission among 4867 babies in 26 reports (19 published, 7 from a national database for reporting such events).