Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AR) pose significant challenges to patient safety and public health. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, along with the CDC, supports a nationwide network of programs dedicated to detecting, preventing, and responding to these threats. By investing in comprehensive strategies, training, and data-driven interventions, these initiatives aim to improve healthcare quality and reduce the burden of resistant infections across the country.
Many of these efforts are coordinated through CDC-funded programs operating within state, local, and territorial health departments. Their core objectives include preventing the emergence and spread of HAIs and AR pathogens, enhancing early detection and containment measures, and promoting antibiotic stewardship practices. These programs also focus on safeguarding healthcare personnel and patients by strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols, ultimately fostering safer healthcare environments.
Why Infection Prevention Efforts Are Critical
The impact of HAIs is profound, affecting approximately 1 in 31 hospital patients daily, with over 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections reported annually in the United States. Tragically, more than 35,000 lives are lost each year due to resistant infections, which also cost billions in healthcare expenses—over $4.6 billion annually. Additionally, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in outpatient settings remains a concern, with an estimated 47 million unnecessary antibiotic courses prescribed each year, fueling resistance growth. For a better understanding of body health fundamentals, including vital signs, visit understanding vital signs the fundamentals of body health.
Key Program Areas and Activities
CDC-funded HAI/AR programs engage in multiple strategic areas to combat these issues effectively:
Infection Prevention and Response
- Focus on preventing the development and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) within healthcare settings.
- Rapidly respond to outbreaks, including those involving COVID-19.
- Regularly evaluate infection prevention practices at healthcare facilities, providing tailored recommendations to address identified gaps.
- Leverage data-driven approaches to enhance infection control protocols.
- Strengthen collaboration among laboratories, health departments, healthcare facilities, licensing bodies, and academic institutions to ensure coordinated responses. For insights on healthcare system improvements, explore harnessing natural language processing to transform healthcare.
Antibiotic Stewardship
- Support healthcare facilities in establishing and refining antibiotic stewardship programs to optimize prescribing practices.
- Monitor antibiotic use, identify disparities, and implement targeted interventions.
- Foster partnerships among healthcare providers, payors, regulatory agencies, and academic entities to promote responsible antibiotic use, including emerging telehealth services.
Laboratory Network Support
- Enhance antimicrobial resistance testing capabilities through participation in the CDC’s AR Lab Network.
- Facilitate submission of isolates for testing, ensuring timely detection of resistant strains.
- Provide training and technical guidance for laboratory personnel involved in AR detection. Visit supporting comprehensive AR testing to learn more about laboratory network initiatives.
Education and Training
- Improve healthcare workers’ knowledge of infection control best practices via programs like Project Firstline.
- Coordinate training efforts across local health departments, academic institutions, and healthcare organizations.
- Use healthcare facility assessments to provide targeted education that addresses specific knowledge gaps. To learn about infection prevention strategies, see about Project Firstline.
Data Collection and Monitoring
- Assist healthcare facilities in enrolling in and reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
- Use collected data to inform public health interventions and policies.
- Establish data-sharing agreements with local health departments to facilitate comprehensive surveillance. For guidance on managing your insurance information, check mastering how to read your insurance card essential tips and details.
Program Achievements
Since launching these initiatives in August 2019, participating health departments have achieved remarkable milestones:
Interesting:
- Uncovering common healthcare billing schemes and fraud prevention strategies
- Upholding ethical standards through effective healthcare compliance programs
- Maximizing healthcare insights through open and closed claims analysis
- Navigating healthcare compliance programs ensuring data security and regulatory adherence
- Transforming healthcare through strategic consulting and innovation
- Engaged over 15,000 healthcare workers in antibiotic stewardship efforts.
- Trained more than 100,000 healthcare professionals in infection prevention techniques.
- Conducted upwards of 65,000 infection prevention assessments across healthcare facilities.
- Supported over 120,000 outbreak response activities to contain and control infections.
Success Stories from States
Kansas exemplifies how CDC support has transformed local efforts. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has expanded its team from three to 24 experts, increased infection prevention assessments fivefold since 2019, and strengthened partnerships with healthcare providers. Their success has garnered recognition from organizations like the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and Pew Charitable Trusts, demonstrating the impact of federal funding in creating safer healthcare environments. For more on healthcare safety strategies, see understanding vital signs the fundamentals of body health.
Policy Foundations and Funding
The 2009 HHS Action Plan set a national roadmap for HAI prevention, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts among health departments. The CDC manages significant funding through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) cooperative agreement, distributing over $1 billion in supplemental COVID-19 funds from 2020 to 2022 to bolster infection prevention in healthcare settings. These resources support all 50 states, several major cities, and U.S. territories, enabling widespread implementation of prevention measures and data sharing.
Contact and Resources
For further assistance or to connect with program managers, contact HAIAR@cdc.gov. Resources are available for public health and healthcare professionals seeking to improve infection control, detect HAIs, and respond to outbreaks, including guidance on laboratory testing and outbreak management.
By continuously advancing these programs and fostering collaboration, the U.S. aims to reduce HAIs and antimicrobial resistance, ultimately safeguarding patient health and strengthening the resilience of healthcare systems nationwide.