FETP-Frontline Exercise Book — Participant Guide

Exercise 5B-2:
Prepare an Analysis Plan
Instructions: In your group:

1. Review the data set provided on the next two pages.

2. Agree on the variables that should be summarized.
Note: Consider the objectives of the analysis and the audience(s) for the results. Who will
be using these data? How will they be used?

3. Determine how each variable (selected in Step 2) should be summarized.

For example: With one or more measures of central location? Frequency distribution?
Other table, graph, etc.? If you plan to present age groups, what age groups would you
use?

4. For each variable to be summarized, indicate whether it is addressing clinical, time, place,
or person characteristics.

5. Be prepared to discuss your answers outside your group.

Version 2.0 (October 2020)

 FETP-Frontline Exercise Book — Participant Guide

Version 2.0 (October 2020)

 FETP-Frontline Exercise Book — Participant Guide

Anthrax Outbreak in a Slaughterhouse in Country X, Results of Investigation and

Epidemiologic Findings
Date of
Onset Anthrax
Case Date Diagnosis by Anthrax
No. 2016 Lab Testing Age Sex Occupation Case status Presentation Outcome Diagnostic Tests*
1 12 May 05 Jun 25 M Animal preparer Confirmed Cutaneous Alive Serum IgG reactive
Skin biopsy IHC+/
2 14 May 01 Jun 33 M Butcher Confirmed Cutaneous Alive Serum IgG reactive
Pleural biopsy IHC+/
3 15 May 07 Jun 25 F Secretary Suspect Inhalation Alive Serum IgG reactive
4 15 May 07 Jun 53 M Manager Confirmed Inhalation Dead Blood culture+
5 17 May 10 Jun 38 M Butcher Suspect Cutaneous Alive Skin biopsy IHC+
6 19 May 17 Jun 29 F Meat packer Confirmed Inhalation Dead Blood culture+
Pleural biopsy IHC+/
7 19 May 17 Jun 46 M Butcher Confirmed Inhalation Alive Serum IgG reactive
8 19 May 17 Jun 33 M Animal preparer Suspect Inhalation Alive Pleural biopsy IHC+
9 21 May 14 Jun 28 F Secretary Suspect Cutaneous Alive Skin biopsy IHC+

Skin biopsy IHC+/

10 21 May 19 Jun 52 M Butcher Confirmed Cutaneous Alive Serum IgG reactive

*Note: IHC = immunohistochemistry, IgG = anthrax-specific immunoglobulin G antibody

Table continued on next page

Version 2.0 (October 2020)

 FETP-Frontline Exercise Book — Participant Guide

Anthrax Outbreak in a Slaughterhouse in Country X, Results of Investigation and

Epidemiologic Findings (continued)
Date of
Onset Anthrax
Case Date Diagnosis by Anthrax
No. 2016 Lab Testing Age Sex Occupation Case status Presentation Outcome Diagnostic Tests*
11 23 May 14 Jun 56 M Cleaner Suspect Inhalation Dead Blood culture+
12 23 May 16 Jun 32 M Meat packer Confirmed Cutaneous Alive Skin biopsy IHC+
13 23 May 15 Jun 40 M Meat processor Suspect Inhalation Alive Pleural biopsy IHC+
14 24 May 15 Jun 44 M Meat processor Suspect Inhalation Alive Pleural biopsy IHC+
15 24 May 16 Jun 27 M Cleaner Confirmed Cutaneous Alive Skin biopsy IHC+

*Note: IHC = immunohistochemistry, IgG = anthrax-specific immunoglobulin G antibody

Adapted from Jernigan DB, et al. Emerging Infectious Diseases, October 2002; 8(10): 1019–1028.

Version 2.0 (October 2020)