Clinical Bacteriology Testing at DSHS Laboratory

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Texas Notifiable Conditions Surveillance

The clinical bacteriology group receives and tests many of the specimens submitted for notifiable conditions. The Texas Notifiable Conditions List is available at Notifiable Conditions | Texas DSHS.

2024 Texas Notifiable Conditions List

The process of reporting a notifiable condition to DSHS includes
1. Reporting the condition to the local or regional health department (of the patient’s county of residence) within the reporting timeframe.
2. Submitting an isolate or clinical specimen to the DSHS Laboratory. This is a required step for some, but not all notifiable conditions.

Texas Admin. Code 25 §97.2 identifies who must notify the local health authority of a person or animal suspected of having a notifiable condition.

Texas Admin. Code 25 §97.3 (4) identifies what specimens of these must be submitted to DSHS Laboratory for surveillance.

An outline of the reporting and specimen submission process is available here.

Note: Only some notifiable conditions require a specimen be sent to the DSHS Laboratory. The table below lists the notifiable condition specimens processed by the Clinical Bacteriology Group only. Refer to the Notifiable Conditions List for the complete list of required specimens. Pure cultures of the organisms should be submitted as they become available

 

Diphtheria is a potentially serious respiratory and skin disease caused by toxin producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria. The bacteria are usually spread from person-to-person via respiratory secretions. Occasionally it may spread through contact with skin lesions. Confirmed and suspected cases of diphtheria are immediately reportable in Texas.

Diphtheria Testing at DSHS Austin Laboratory

The Laboratory carries out isolation and identification of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Please refer to DSHS’ LTSM test menu for more details on C. diphtheriae testing at the Laboratory. General specimen submission guidance is available on DSHS’ specimen submission and shipping requirements pages.

For more information on diphtheria, visit the DSHS’ Infectious Disease Control’s webpages at Diphtheria | Texas DSHS and CDC at Diphtheria | CDC.
 

Hemophilus influenzae Disease

Haemophilus influenzae disease is the name for any disease caused by six identifiable types of H. influenzae bacteria (types a through f) or non-typeable H. influenzae bacteria. H. influenzae, type b (Hib) usually causes the most severe disease and is the only type that is vaccine preventable. Some of these illnesses, such as ear infections, are mild while others, such as bloodstream infections, are invasive and serious. Despite its name, H. influenzae does not cause influenza (the flu). All cases of invasive H. influenzae disease are reportable in Texas.  

The Laboratory carries out identification of H. influenzae isolates. Specimens of invasive H. influenzae infections (taken from normally sterile sites such as blood or CSF) in children younger than 5 years must be submitted to DSHS for testing. Specimens from non-sterile sites (such as swabs) are not acceptable as notifiable condition specimen submissions. Specimens from older patients are not required for reporting purposes.  

Haemophilus influenzae Testing at the DSHS Austin Laboratory

Please refer to the DSHS’ LTSM test menu for more details on H. influenzae testing at the Laboratory. General specimen submission guidance is available on the DSHS’ specimen submission and shipping requirements pages.

For more information on Haemophilus influenzae disease, visit the DSHS’ Infectious Disease Control’s webpages at Haemophilus Influenzae (Including Hib) | Texas DSHS and CDC at Haemophilus influenzae Disease (including Hib) | CDC

 

Listeriosis

Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. L. monocytogenes is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is a reportable condition in Texas.

Listeria monocytogenes Testing at DSHS Austin Laboratory

The DSHS Laboratory carries out identification of L. monocytogenes isolates. The Laboratory also identifies Listeria species, including monocytogenes, from submitted food and environmental samples.

Please refer to the DSHS’ LTSM test menu for more details on L. monocytogenes testing at the Laboratory. General specimen submission guidance is available on the DSHS’ specimen submission and shipping requirements pages.

For more information on listeriosis, visit the CDC at Symptoms | Listeria | CDC

 

Meningococcal Invasive Disease

Meningococcal disease is a serious and​ potentially life-threatening infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. N. meningitidis is spread from person-to-person either by:

• Direct contact with respiratory and throat secretions (e.g., kissing)
• Indirect contact (e.g., sharing of eating utensils, toothbrushes), or
• Aerosol droplets (e.g., coughing and sneezing).

Common signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease include sudden onset of high fever, neck stiffness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, and rash. Without prompt and appropriate treatment, the infection can progress rapidly and result in death. All cases of meningococcal invasive disease are immediately reportable in Texas.  

Neisseria meningitidis Testing at the DSHS Austin Laboratory

The Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory carries out identification of N. meningitidis isolates.

The Laboratory also serotypes N. meningitidis from sterile sites or purpuric lesions. Please refer to the DSHS’ LTSM test menu for more details on N. meningitidis testing at the Laboratory. General specimen submission guidance is available on the DSHS’ specimen submission and shipping requirements pages.

For more information on Meningococcal Invasive Disease, visit the DSHS’ Infectious Disease Control’s webpages at Meningococcal Invasive Disease | Texas DSHS and the CDC at Meningococcal Disease | CDC.

 

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is an intestinal illness caused by infection by Salmonella bacteria. It is spread by eating contaminated foods, drinking contaminated water, or ingesting feces of an infected person or animal. Salmonellosis is commonly acquired by:

• eating raw or undercooked poultry, eggs, or raw milk products or drinking raw milk or untreated water,
• caring for a person with diarrhea,
• working in a day-care facility or with diapered children,
• handling pets (including reptiles and poultry) and/or wild animals, or livestock or cleaning their living areas.

 

Salmonella spp. Testing at DSHS Austin Laboratory

The Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory screens stool specimens for Salmonella. Clinical specimens that are positive for Salmonella by culture independent diagnostic test (CIDT) methods are accepted for confirmation testing. 

The DSHS Laboratory also tests food and environmental specimens for Salmonella.

Please refer to the DSHS’ LTSM test menu for more details on Salmonella testing at the Laboratory. General specimen submission guidance is available on the DSHS’ specimen submission and shipping requirements pages.

For more information on Salmonellosis, visit the DSHS’ Infectious Disease Control’s webpages at Salmonellosis (Salmonella Infection) | Texas DSHS and CDC at Salmonella Homepage | CDC.