[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 202 (Friday, October 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64386-64387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26527]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02105]


Enhancement of Surveillance for Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole 
Resistant Invasive Respiratory and Diarrheal Disease in South Africa; 
Notice of Award of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
award of fiscal year (FY) 2002 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for Enhancement of Surveillance for Trimethoprim-
Sulfamethoxazole Resistant Invasive Respiratory and Diarrheal Disease 
in South Africa. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' 
focus area Immunization and Infectious Diseases.
    The purpose of the program is to strengthen surveillance for key 
respiratory and diarrheal disease episodes in order to facilitate 
program monitoring of the increased use of trimethoprim-
sulfamethoxazole (cotrimoxazole) as part of care and support of persons 
with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS). Enhanced sentinel 
hospital surveillance for bloodstream and cerebrospinal fluid 
infections caused by key Pathogens-Streptococcus Pneumoniae, 
Haemophilus Influenzae, and non-typhoidal Salmonella species will 
permit evaluation of trends in the occurrence of antimicrobial 
resistance in pediatric vs. adult infections, and estimation of 
temporal changes in the contribution of HIV/AIDS to the total burden of 
these respiratory and diarrheal diseases. Surveillance will also detect 
cases which occur despite adherence to cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and 
estimate the role of antimicrobial resistance in these episodes.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to the Respiratory and Meningeal 
Pathogens Laboratory (The Unit) of the National Health Laboratory 
Service, Department of Health, South Africa. No other applications are 
solicited.
    The Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Laboratory of the National 
Health Laboratory Service is a Government organization and the only 
appropriate and qualified organization to conduct the specific 
surveillance activities due to the following:
    1. The unit is uniquely positioned to conduct enhanced surveillance 
and has established contacts as well as laboratory and epidemiologic 
experiences that enable it to immediately become engaged in the 
activities listed in this announcement.
    2. The Laboratory has been the National Reference Laboratory for 
pneumococci and Haemophilus Influenzae and has provided training to 
reference laboratories throughout Africa. The Unit was designated by 
the Government to coordinate national surveillance through sentinel 
laboratories for the major pathogens causing meningitis (pneumococcus, 
Haemophilus Influenzae, and Meningococcus). The infrastructure can be 
expanded with minimal difficulty to include non-typhoidal salmonella 
isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid and be enhanced to assure 
additional epidemiologic data are collected as part of sentinel 
surveillance.
    3. The Unit has coordinated surveillance for trimethoprim-
sulfamethoxazole resistance in respiratory and meningeal infections in 
sentinel hospitals located throughout South Africa.
    4. The Unit has provided training of laboratory identification and 
characterization, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, for 
meningitis agents including pneumococcus and Haemophilus Influenzae. 
Laboratory staff have provided national training as well as training of 
personnel from multiple other countries in Africa. The Enteric 
Pathogens Laboratory is expert at identification and susceptibility 
testing of nontyphoidal Salmonella, and has been designated part of the 
National Health Laboratory Service by the Government to serve in a 
reference capacity for these organisms.
    5. The Unit and the National Health Laboratory Service already have 
established collaborations in place. The

[[Page 64387]]

Unit operates under a memorandum of understanding between the Medical 
Research Council and CDC.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that 
an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to 
receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant or loan.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $250,000 is being awarded in FY 2002 to fund one 
award. It is expected that the award will begin on or about September 
1, 2002, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project 
period of up to five years. The funding estimate may change.
    Continuation award within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.

D. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease 
Registry (ATSDR) announcements can be found on the CDC home page 
Internet address http://www.cdc.gov Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements.''
    To obtain business management technical assistance, contact: 
Cynthia Collins, Grants Management Specialist, International & 
Territories Acquisition and Assistance Branch, Procurement and Grants 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: (770) 488-2757, e-
mail: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Anne Schuchat, MD, 
National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 
(404) 639-2215, e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: October 9, 2002.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-26527 Filed 10-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P