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Criteria for Selection of Surrogates Used To Study the Fate and Control of Pathogens in the Environment
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Criteria for Selection of Surrogates Used To Study the Fate and Control of Pathogens in the Environment

Ryan G Sinclair, Joan B Rose, Syed A Hashsham, Charles P Gerba and Charles N Haas
Applied and environmental microbiology, v 78(6), pp 1969-1977
Mar 2012
PMID: 22247166
url
https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.06582-11View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Public Health Microbiology
This article defines the term surrogate as an organism, particle, or substance used to study the fate of a pathogen in a specific environment. Pathogenic organisms, nonpathogenic organisms, and innocuous particles have been used as surrogates for a variety of purposes, including studies on survival and transport as well as for method development and as “indicators” of certain conditions. This article develops a qualitative surrogate attribute prioritization process and allows investigators to select a surrogate by systematically detailing the experimental process and prioritizing attributes. The results are described through the use of case studies of various laboratories that have used this process. This article also discusses the history of surrogate and microbial indicator use and outlines the method by which surrogates can be used when conducting a quantitative microbial risk assessment. The ultimate goal of selecting a sufficiently representative surrogate is to improve public health through a health-based risk assessment framework. Under- or overestimating the resistance, inactivation, or movement may negatively impact risk assessments that, in turn, will impact health assessments and estimated safety levels. Reducing uncertainty in a risk assessment is one of the objectives of using surrogates and the ultimate motive for any experiment investigating potential exposure of a pathogen.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Microbiology
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