[Federal Register: July 2, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 127)] [Notices] [Page 36235-36236] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02jy98-81] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [INFO-98-22] Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques for other forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice. Proposed Project 1. Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP) (0920-0307)-- Extension--The Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP) is requesting a 3-year extension of OMB clearance to continue the Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project (GISP). The objectives of GISP are: (1) To monitor trends in antimicrobial susceptibility of strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the United States; and (2) to characterize resistant isolates. GISP provides critical surveillance for antimicrobial resistance, allowing for informed treatment recommendations. GISP was begun in 1986 as a voluntary surveillance project and now involves 5 regional laboratories and 26 publicly funded sexually transmitted disease clinics around the country. The STD clinics submit up to 25 gonococcal [[Page 36236]] isolates per month to the regional laboratories, which measure susceptibility to a panel of antibiotics. Limited demographic and clinical information corresponding to the isolates are submitted directly by the clinics to CDC. During 1986-1997, GISP has demonstrated the ability to effectively achieve its objectives. The recent emergence of resistance to fluoroquinolones, commonly used therapies for gonorrhea, has been identified through GISP and makes ongoing surveillance critical. Data gathered through GISP are used to alert the public health community to changes in antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae which may impact treatment choices, and to guide recommendations made in CDC's STD Treatment Guidelines, which are published every several years. There is no cost to the respondents. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No. of Respondent No. of responses/ Avg. burden Total burden respondents respondents (in hrs.) (in hrs.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laboratory...................................... 5 1056 1 5312 Clinic.......................................... 26 204 0.166 8846 --------------------------------------------------------------- Total....................................... .............. .............. .............. 6196 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Tuberculosis Statistics and Program Evaluation Activity, Contact Follow-up (CDC 72.16) and Completion of Preventive Therapy (CDC 72.21)--(0920-0026)--Extension--The National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP)--Tuberculosis (TB) is transmitted when contagious TB patients aerosolize Mycobacterium tuberculosis and susceptible persons (i.e., ``contacts'') are exposed. Some contacts are especially endangered by TB if they become infected--children younger than 5 years old, and anyone with an illness that weakens the immune system (e.g., the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS). The prompt evaluation of all contacts is crucial for finding early TB cases and latent infections. For latent TB infections, treatment with isoniazid preventive therapy can prevent new TB cases from developing. Evaluation, follow-up, and preventive therapy for contacts comprise the most efficient approach for finding and treating recent TB infections and preventing future cases. Therefore, it is one of the highest priorities for the national TB control strategy, second only to finding and treating contagious cases. The local and the state TB control programs and CDC use Contact Follow-up (CDC 72.16) and Completion of Preventive Therapy (CDC 72.21) to measure progress in achieving the national goals for performance in these areas. There is no cost to the respondents. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No. of No. of responses/ Avg. burden/ Total burden Report respondents respondent (in response (in (in hrs.) hrs.) hrs.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Follow-up (1996),...................... 103 2 .5 103 Completion of Preventive Therapy (1995)........ 103 2 1 206 Total...................................... .............. .............. ............... 309 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dated: June 26, 1998. Charles W. Gollmar, Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [FR Doc. 98-17594 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163-18-P