Genomic outbreak intelligence for hospitals that need more than standard methods can deliver.
When an unexplained outbreak, a recurring HAI, or a high-profile infection event puts your patients and your facility at risk, Theiagen brings the genomic forensics, surveillance, and translational tools to resolve it.
We understand your world
Most hospitals aren't set up to run genomic pathogen analysis in-house — the specimen volumes don't justify the cost, and the expertise is hard to maintain. When an outbreak situation demands genomic answers, the usual options are slow, unclear, or both. Public health labs provide the science but not always on a clinical timeline. Commercial lab reporting may not fully translate into action your infection control team can take immediately.
Theiagen fills that gap — with defined bioinformatics consulting services built specifically for the situations where you need a genomic answer fast and acted on with confidence.
How Theiagen helps
We offer three defined genomic services for hospital and health system clients — each addressing a different clinical need, all built on the same foundation of deep pathogen genomics expertise.
Theiagen Detect™: Genomic Outbreak Forensics
When standard infection control and epidemiology can't explain what's happening, Theiagen Detect brings genomic forensic analysis to the problem. We determine whether cases are truly linked or coincidental, map transmission pathways to identify who infected whom and which wards are connected, and pinpoint likely sources — a specific device, sink, procedure, or environmental reservoir.
When to call us
- An unexplained hospital-acquired infection where the source remains unclear despite standard investigation
- Recurring infections on a specific ward — transplant, ICU, oncology — despite standard infection control measures
- A seminal event with high mortality or media and regulatory scrutiny, such as a cluster of VRE, CRE, or NTM cases
- A Joint Commission failure or high-profile crisis requiring a credible, evidence-based response
What you get
- Confirmation of whether cases share the same strain or represent unrelated introductions
- A mapped transmission network showing pathways, wards, and likely vectors
- Identification of the probable source or reservoir with specific, targeted intervention recommendations
- Documentation that demonstrates to regulators and boards that state-of-the-art genomic methods were applied
Theiagen Tracker™: Targeted Pathogen Surveillance
Rather than sequencing everything all the time, Theiagen Tracker focuses genomic surveillance on the organisms and situations that matter most to your facility. We work with your team to define a priority watch list — typically three to seven high-risk organisms — and provide continuous genomic monitoring that tells you whether a spike is a true outbreak or unrelated introductions.
What we can help monitor
- Top multi-drug resistant organisms — CRE, ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, MDR Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, MRSA, VRE
- High-impact HAIs in your highest-risk units — solid organ transplant, ICU, oncology
- Infection rate spikes versus your baseline or peer benchmarks
What you get
- Confirmation of whether an apparent spike is a single outbreak strain or multiple unrelated introductions
- Defined cluster boundaries — which patients, which rooms, which procedures are connected
- An evidence-based action plan — where to intensify cleaning, which devices or rooms to culture, where to focus stewardship resources
Theiagen Deploy™: Translational PCR Development
After a Theiagen Detect or Tracker engagement, we don't leave you dependent on genomic sequencing forever. Insight from the genomic analysis can translate to a simple, cost-efficient local screening tool.
How it works
- We define the genetic signature of the high-risk strain or resistance marker identified during the genomic investigation
- We identify PCR targets or simple phenotypic assays — such as hypermucoid or string tests — that can detect that signature cheaply in your wet lab
- We validate the approach and hand it off to your team with the training to use it
What you get
- A durable, low-cost screening capability your lab owns permanently
- Independence from ongoing sequencing costs for routine surveillance of a known threat
- Sequencing becomes the enabler of local capability, not a perpetual dependency
- A clear narrative for your leadership: we identified the threat genomically and gave you the tools to keep it under control
Why trust Theiagen
Theiagen brings the science, systems, and strategy — microbiology, bioinformatics, epidemiology, and software systems — that organizations need to operationalize reliable, proven genomic intelligence at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a hospital consider genomic outbreak forensics?
Hospitals should consider genomic outbreak forensics when standard epidemiology cannot explain an outbreak, when infections recur despite interventions, when high-risk organisms are involved, or when regulatory scrutiny requires definitive evidence of transmission and source identification.
What is Theiagen Detect™ and when should hospitals use it?
Theiagen Detect™ is a genomic outbreak forensics service for hospitals facing unexplained healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), recurring ward infections, high-mortality clusters, or regulatory investigations. We determine whether cases are linked, map transmission pathways, identify likely sources, and provide evidence-based documentation that supports clinical and operational decision-making.
What is Theiagen Tracker™ and how does it work?
Theiagen Tracker™ is a targeted pathogen surveillance service that focuses genomic monitoring on a hospital’s highest-risk organisms and patient populations. It determines whether infection spikes represent true outbreaks or unrelated introductions and provides actionable recommendations for infection prevention and control teams.
What is Theiagen Deploy™?
Theiagen Deploy™ translates findings from genomic investigations into practical, low-cost screening capabilities, such as PCR assays or other targeted tools that hospitals can operate independently. It converts genomic insight into a durable surveillance capability that reduces dependence on ongoing sequencing.
How does genomic sequencing help hospitals with infection control?
Genomic sequencing provides definitive answers that traditional epidemiology often cannot. It confirms whether cases share the same strain, identifies transmission pathways, and helps pinpoint environmental reservoirs or procedural sources, enabling infection prevention teams to implement targeted interventions.
Can genomic analysis help identify environmental reservoirs in hospitals?
Yes. Genomic analysis can determine whether isolates from sinks, equipment, devices, water systems, or environmental samples are genetically related to patient infections. This evidence helps hospitals identify likely reservoirs and focus remediation efforts where they will have the greatest impact.
How quickly can genomic analysis help during a hospital outbreak investigation?
The timing depends on specimen availability, sequencing workflows, and the complexity of the investigation. Genomic analysis can rapidly provide evidence regarding outbreak linkage, transmission pathways, and potential sources, helping hospitals make more informed infection prevention decisions.
Why can't hospitals rely solely on public health laboratories for outbreak genomics?
Public health laboratories provide valuable scientific support but often operate on timelines that may not align with clinical urgency. Hospitals facing active outbreaks frequently need rapid, dedicated genomic analysis and clinically actionable reporting to support immediate decisions regarding patient safety and infection control.
How can genomic sequencing support Joint Commission investigations and regulatory reviews?
Genomic evidence can demonstrate that state-of-the-art investigative methods were applied to understand transmission pathways, identify sources, and implement corrective actions. This documentation can support regulatory reviews, board reporting, and organizational responses to high-profile infection events.
Does Theiagen provide bioinformatics consulting for hospital genomics programs?
Yes. Beyond the three defined service offerings, Theiagen provides bioinformatics consulting support for hospitals building longer-term genomic surveillance capability, including genomic data security and compliance guidance, workflow development, and staff training.