Two Local Health Departments Tackle Healthcare-Associated Infections
ShareCompartir
Raised
awareness about prevention of HAIs
Identified and funded
two local health departments to participate in a six-month HAI prevention project
Conducted
-a hand-washing campaign that highlighted HAI-prevention measures
-a needs assessment among 11 long-term care facilities
Worked
with NACCHO to summarize lessons learned and share resources with health departments nationwide
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are caused by a wide variety of common but unusual bacteria, fungi, and viruses that patients can be exposed to when receiving medical care. These infections are a serious threat to patient safety: approximately one in 20 hospitalized patients falls victim to an HAI, leading to nearly 100,000 deaths per year. HAIs affect patients, healthcare personnel, and surrounding communities and cost the United States $28–$34 billion annually.
Such infections were long accepted by clinicians as an inevitable hazard of hospitalization. However, relatively simple measures can prevent the majority of common HAIs, and as a result, hospitals and other healthcare providers are under intense pressure to reduce the burden of these infections.
Preventing HAIs is considered a “winnable battle” by CDC. Effective educational campaigns and resources can help reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading HAIs. While the responsibility of the public health sector in preventing and reducing HAIs is apparent, the related role of local health departments has remained unclear and limited. For this reason, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is working with local health departments to explore current and potential roles for local health agencies in protecting patients from HAIs.
What We Did
In 2012, NACCHO funded the DuPage County Health Department in Illinois and the Livingston County Department of Public Health in Michigan to participate in an HAI prevention project, building on these local agencies’ experience in addressing HAIs. Through this effort, both health departments
- Partnered with their state HAI coordinators to gain expertise and access available resources
- Connected with local health departments that had experienced HAI outbreaks and learned first-hand about community impact and prevention efforts
- Attended the pre-conference HAI workshop at the 2012 Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Annual Conference
- Met with local healthcare partners and other stakeholders to share information and learn about local needs related to HAI prevention
What We Accomplished
Through this demonstration project,
- Two DuPage County Health Department staff earned certification in health infection control
- Livingston County developed the “Michigan Hands Are Clean Coalition” and created educational print materials for distribution to the public and community healthcare providers
- DuPage County conducted a needs assessment in 11 long-term care facilities and shared results at a meeting with local hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other stakeholders to advance collaboration on this important health issue
- Both agencies learned that there are opportunities and roles for local health departments to share HAI prevention messages and information with the community
- Both agencies contributed to a forthcoming NACCHO summary of lessons learned, including information about the Michigan hand-washing campaign and the DuPage County needs assessment, that can be used by local health departments nationwide to enhance their HAI prevention efforts
To access demonstration project summaries and other resources, health departments can visit NACCHO’s infectious disease prevention and control site at http://www.naccho.org/topics/HPDP/IDPC/index.cfm or contact NACCHO at infectiousdiseases@naccho.org.
For more stories, visit www.cdc.gov/stltpublichealth/phpracticestories
Publication date: 04/26/2013
More Information
For story information, contact
Lilly Kan, MPH
Senior Analyst, Community Health
Telephone: 202-507-4238
Email: lkan@naccho.org
For product information, contact
1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333
OSTLTS Toll-free Helpdesk: 866-835-1861
Email: OSTLTSfeedback@cdc.gov
Web: www.cdc.gov/stltpublichealth
The information in Public Health Practice Stories from the Field was provided by organizations external to CDC. Provision of this information by CDC is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the US government or CDC.
- Page last reviewed: November 9, 2015
- Page last updated: November 9, 2015
- Content source: