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.