Keeping track: the role of PAs in the surveillance and management of enteric infections.

Surveillance of communicable diseases is of primary importance in controlling disease in the community and providing the basis for determining at-risk populations, disease trends, and morbidity and mortality rates. On a larger scale, surveillance data aid health planners in determining priorities and programs from the local to the international level. This article describes the surveillance process and its implications for PAs in their daily practice, as well as the management of common reportable enteric diseases and control measures.