Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) and Antibiotic Resistance
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The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is committed to supporting and enhancing ongoing HAI prevention efforts and developing new HAI prevention infrastructure at the state level. To guide these activities, ADHS has created the Arizona HAI Plan, which outlines current and planned measures to prevent HAIs.
ADHS coordinates the Arizona Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Advisory Committee. This is a multidisciplinary advisory committee comprised of partners including the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Arizona Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and the Health Services Advisory Group. This advisory committee works to identify HAI priorities, develop strategies for HAI prevention, and make recommendations for HAI prevention.
The Healthcare-Associated Infection and Antibiotic Resistance program is responsible for monitoring, controlling and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAI) including bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, and HAI-causing organisms (e.g., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). In addition, the program monitors bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics and provides education about appropriate use of antibiotics to health care providers and the public.
The program:
- maintains a passive surveillance system of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus/Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA/VRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (VRSE);
- monitors susceptibility patterns for invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae and MRSA;
- assists healthcare facilities and county health departments with HAI outbreak investigations and recommends appropriate evidence based infection control guidance;
- provides information to healthcare professionals regarding HAI prevention, appropriate use of antibiotics, and treatment guidelines;
- provides education to the public to raise awareness of the problem of antibiotic resistance and their role in prevention;
- collaborates with professional societies, consumer organizations, and other partners to coordinate HAI prevention efforts; and
- participates in the National Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring System through the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Laboratory.
External Links:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Healthcare-Associated Infections
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Antibiotic Resistance
- Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases Society of America
- The Joint Commission
- National Quality Forum