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  2. Diseases and Conditions
  3. Infectious Disease Reporting
  4. Methods of Reporting Disease: Infectious Disease Reporting
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Infectious Disease Reporting

  • Infectious Disease Reporting Home
  • Reportable Diseases
  • Methods of Reporting
    • Report Immediately by Telephone
    • Phone Reporting
    • Report Forms
    • Order Reporting Forms
  • Persons Required to Report
  • Submitting Clinical Materials
  • Reporting Rule

Related Topics

  • Annual Summary of Disease Activity
  • Minnesota Electronic Disease Surveillance System (MEDSS)
  • Reporting Blood Lead Test Results

Infectious Disease Reporting

  • Infectious Disease Reporting Home
  • Reportable Diseases
  • Methods of Reporting
    • Report Immediately by Telephone
    • Phone Reporting
    • Report Forms
    • Order Reporting Forms
  • Persons Required to Report
  • Submitting Clinical Materials
  • Reporting Rule

Related Topics

  • Annual Summary of Disease Activity
  • Minnesota Electronic Disease Surveillance System (MEDSS)
  • Reporting Blood Lead Test Results
Contact Info
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

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
Frequently asked questions 
Returning the completed form
Diseases to report on this form

ABCs form & instructions

  • ABCs Case Report Form (PDF)
    CDC's ABCs case report form. Updated 2/2025.
    • ABCs Case Report Form Instructions (PDF)
      CDC's step-by-step instructions for filling out the ABCs Case Report Form. Updated 2/2025.

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, vascular tissue, 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)
    • Severe GAS Infection:  Supplemental Form
      Please also complete this supplemental form when reporting all invasive GAS cases.
  • Group B Streptococcus or Haemophilus influenzae:
    • If a fetal death occurs, also placenta or amniotic fluid

Returning the completed forms

Please return the completed form to MDH:

  • By mail (please mark the envelope "confidential") to:
    Minnesota Department of Health
    IDEPC Division
    Post Office Box 64975
    St. Paul, MN 55164-0975
  • By fax to:
    1-800-233-1817

Diseases to report with this form

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

  • 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.
  • Haemophilus influenzae Disease
    Exceptions:Haemophilus influenzae is reportable if fetal death occurs and the site is placenta or amniotic fluid
    • Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) Neonatal Sepsis Expanded Surveillance (HiNSES)
  • 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.
Tags
  • reportable
Last Updated: 02/18/2025

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