Emory University School of Medicine
Department of Medicine

EIP Special Studies (ESS)

This robust and well-established surveillance infrastructure not only supports the timely identification of cases but also creates a strong foundation for conducting a wide range of special studies. By leveraging detailed case data from core surveillance activities, GA EIP is uniquely positioned to lead vaccine effectiveness evaluations, case-control studies, and investigations into antimicrobial resistance, disease severity, and risk factors for infection. These special studies provide a deeper understanding of disease patterns and the real-world impact of prevention strategies. The ability to rapidly launch and integrate enhanced research efforts into existing surveillance makes GA EIP a vital contributor to evidence-based public health decision-making at the local and national levels.

 

Meet the EIP Special Studies Team

Amber Britton

Amber Britton

ESS Manager
Tamsin Van der Woude

Tamsin Van der Woude

ESS Surveillance Epidemiologist
Cassidy Jenkins

Cassidy Jenkins

EPS Surveillance Epidemiologist
Rebecca Fernandes

Rebecca Fernandes

ESS Student Epidemiologist

Active Studies

Enhanced Pertussis Surveillance (EPS)

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis, with infants at greatest risk for severe complications. Despite widespread vaccination, pertussis cases are rising in the U.S., making continued surveillance critical. The Georgia Emerging Infections Program collaborates with the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health on Enhanced Pertussis Surveillance (EPS) to monitor disease incidence, study circulating strains, and evaluate vaccine impact. As part of EPS, selected metro Atlanta primary care practices participate as Sentinel Providers, receiving free testing, materials, and support from the Georgia Public Health Laboratory to aid in the detection and reporting of pertussis across all age groups.

 

 

Meningococcal Carriage Study (AMC)

The Georgia Emerging Infections Program, in partnership with Emory University’s HOPE Clinic, is conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of azithromycin in eliminating Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal) carriage among young adults aged 18–25. This research responds to rising antibiotic resistance, particularly to ciprofloxacin, and aims to inform updated public health strategies for meningococcal disease prevention. The study involves screening students near Emory-affiliated campuses, treating identified carriers with a one-time dose of azithromycin, and assessing carriage status post-treatment. It also seeks to establish baseline carriage prevalence, identify serogroups, assess antibiotic susceptibility, and examine risk factors for carriage. Findings will help guide future prophylaxis recommendations amid growing concerns about resistance.


Pneumococcal Carriage Study

The Georgia Emerging Infections Program, in collaboration with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, is studying Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) carriage in children to better understand how vaccination impacts which serotypes circulate and cause disease. Although pneumococcal vaccines have greatly reduced illness from targeted serotypes, shifts in serotype prevalence and antibiotic resistance have emerged, highlighting the need for continued surveillance. This study collects nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs from children in the emergency department to identify carried serotypes, assess resistance patterns, and compare them with strains causing invasive disease locally. It also examines risk factors for carriage and evaluates swabbing methods to improve detection. Findings will inform future vaccine strategies and public health efforts to reduce pneumococcal disease in children.



Mpox Vaccine Effectiveness (MPX VE)

In response to the FDA's emergency use authorization of the JYNNEOS vaccine on August 9, 2022, the Georgia Emerging Infections Program (GA EIP) is partnering with the CDC to evaluate its continued effectiveness among at-risk populations. Between May and September 2022, over 21,000 confirmed or probable mpox (MPX) cases were reported in the U.S., with the outbreak disproportionately affecting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), as well as transgender women. This realworld assessment aims to measure how well the vaccine protects these groups against symptomatic mpox. GA EIP collaborates with the Georgia Department of Public Health, local HIV/STI clinics, and PrEP providers to identify eligible participants. Each completes a brief survey online or by phone, and responses are verified through public health and vaccination records. Enrollment began on November 7, 2022, and is ongoing.



CA CP CRE Interviews

MuGSI and ESS staff work together to interview CRE cases that considered community-associated (CA) and carabapenemase-producing (CP-CRE) with two goals in mind. The first is to confirm that a case is truly community associated as we know previous healthcare exposures can be missing from medical records. The second is to further identify potentially modifiable risk factors or sources for CA CP-CRE acquisition. We conduct extensive interviews covering potential risk factors from expanded healthcare exposures, travel, antibiotic use, occupation, agricultural exposures, and close contacts. As of August 2025, we have completed three interviews.



HAI Prevalence Studies

Prevalence, a subset of CDC’s EIP Healthcare-Associated Infections Community Interface Activity, engages in special study activities to answer questions and identify trends in HAIs and antimicrobial use in different healthcare settings. These surveys rely on facility partnership and engagement, whether it’s the Hospital Survey or the Nursing Home survey. Data collected from these studies includes HAIs not routinely tracked and/or reportable, which further strengthens the importance and use of the data to public health professionals and healthcare providers to improve patient safety.



Historical Studies

  • Group B Streptococcus Correlates of Protection (GBS CoP)

  • Healthcare Personnel (HCP) COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness (VE)

  • All Sites Staphylococcus aureus Limited Time Expanded Surveillance (aSA)

  • Healthcare Personnel (HCP) COVID-19 Tracking



Recent Special Studies Publications