Key Objectives:
Participants will discuss the impact of expanded focus and funding for healthcare-associated and antibiotic resistant infection prevention programs; and share successful strategies for growing a program by implementing new topic areas, staff engagement, and sustainability.
Brief Summary:
Healthcare-associated and antibiotic resistant infections have been identified as a major public health priority, and major investments have been made to combat these issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state, and local health departments play a critical role in defining the magnitude of the problem and monitoring progress in reducing and eliminating these infections. CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity funding has facilitated the growth and sustainability of state and local health department capacity to expand the role of healthcare-associated and antibiotic resistance prevention programs to include coordinating efforts among stakeholders, conducting outreach to facilities, and designing and directly leading the implementation of quality improvement activities with healthcare facilities and providers. In 2015, the response to the Ebola Virus Disease brought dramatic funding and a significant increase in focus for state and local health departments to improve infection control practices within their jurisdiction by conducting on-site visits to assess capacity and provide guidance and recommendations for identified gaps. Additionally, antibiotic resistance surveillance and control was identified as a top priority by international and national organizations with subsequent support coming from CDC to state and local health departments to increase capacity and expertise to specifically respond to these infections. Some states have been working on enhancing and expanding local infrastructure for surveillance systems to monitor trends in antibiotic use and resistance, perform outbreak response, and communicate more efficiently with healthcare providers. This roundtable represents an opportunity for participants to discuss the impact, opportunities, and challenges of expanded focus for HAI and antibiotic resistant infection prevention programs. Topics to be discussed include strategies for continued network development at the national, state, and local level, staff engagement, strategic planning, and sustainability. The overarching goal of this roundtable is to facilitate open discussion between jurisdictions and identify practical solutions and implementation strategies.