(P73) MINIMIZING THE BURDEN: BUILDING A MULTI-STATE EXCHANGE OF CONTACT EXPOSURES

Background:
Historically, there has been no common, disease-agnostic data standard for sharing public health data related to contact tracing. This lack of standardization makes sharing, integrating, and interpreting contact tracing and case data onerous and contributes to inconsistent, incomplete, untimely, and less effective public health follow-up. Emergency responses, like the COVID-19 and mpox response, and our complex landscape of data exchange highlight these gaps in interstate exchange of case and contact tracing data.

Methods:
In an effort to minimize the burden of interstate transfer of exposures, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) developed a standard and secure way to exchange contact tracing information through a partnership with the APHL using the AIMS platform during COVID-19. The effort was successful in standardizing how exposure information was shared, greatly decreased the time and effort on overstretched public health staff, and built a network of peers who continue to convene regularly.

In 2021, CDC and MITRE partnered with the DMV group to expand and pilot this work with 9 additional states. The pilot aimed to standardize the content, format, and transport of contact tracing data to facilitate the automation interstate exchange. The pilot initially focused on data exchange efforts for COVID-19, but shifted to STI because of its high volume and its potential as an established, long-term use case.

Results:
The group of 12 states developed a standard data schema for the interstate exchange of Syphilis contacts and is now preparing a pilot with two jurisdictions to demonstrate exchange of data using the schema.

Conclusion:
This session will bring attention to and increase participation in the initiative. Expanding IDEP to other jurisdictions will help ensure prepared and efficient public health responses, ultimately minimizing the impact of emergent public health threats on our communities.