This report was prepared by Dr. Ling-Chuan Wu of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Infectious and Zoonotic Disease Program. The comments and suggestions from Dr. John Brook and Ms. Mary Jane Hung as well as the assistance in compiling the database by Ms. MaryAnn Scepansky are appreciated.

The Program's appreciation also goes to all acute-care hospitals in New Jersey for their participation in this Epidemiology Surveillance System; to the hospital microbiology supervisors for reporting isolates; to Mr. Vince Yarmlak and Mr. Richard Mullen of the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services, Division of Health Care Systems Analysis, for making the New Jersey hospital discharge and occupancy information available; to Dr. Sen-Yuan Wu of the New Jersey Department of Labor, Division of Labor Market and Demographic Research, for providing New Jersey population data.

We also would like to thank Dr. Jerome Tokars at CDC, Dr. Kenneth Spitalny, Dr. Lyn Finelli, and Dr. Sindy Paul who developed and implemented this surveillance system in 1991.