CDPH Healthcare Associated Infections / Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Unit

Chicago's HAI/AR Unit commits to continued detection and response to antibiotic-resistant infections in healthcare settings. The HAI/AR Unit will continue to conduct onsite investigations and provide technical assistance to Chicago providers to mitigate gaps in infection control. The HAI/AR Unit will leverage surveillance data for public health response and train healthcare staff across the continuum of care in core antimicrobial stewardship principles and appropriate antimicrobial use. The HAI/AR Unit commits to work with state, local, academic, and clinical partners to establish regional standards for infection control and antimicrobial stewardship best practices to reduce the emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. In 2013, CDC published a comprehensive analysis outlining the top 18 antibiotic-resistant threats in the U.S., titled Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013 (AR Threats Report). The report sounded the alarm to the danger of antibiotic resistance, stating that each year in the U.S., at least 2 million people get an antibiotic-resistant infection, and at least 23,000 people die.

State of HAIs within Illinois

Review reports on HAI rates within Illinois hospitals in addition to quality and safety data, nurse staffing, patient satisfaction and costs of services. The statewide initiative to control HAIs is outlined in the Illinois Action Plan to Prevent Health Care Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance.

Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care

Illinois Progress Report

Illinois Action Plan to Prevent Health Care Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance

 

How do I prevent HAIs within my own facility?

Click on our training resource page below to receive more information on infection prevention and control! This page includes archives of trainings sponsored by CDPH.

Training Resources and Guidelines

Infection Control Training Archive *NEW*

"Day in the Life of an Infection Preventionist" Workshop

"Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection" Workshop

 

How do I assess infection control within my own facility?

The Infection Control Assessment Tools were developed to assist in assessing infection prevention practices and guide quality improvement activities (e.g., by addressing identified gaps). These tools may also be used by healthcare facilities to conduct internal quality improvement audits.

Infection Control Assessment Tool for Acute Care Hospitals

Infection Control Assessment Tool for Long-term Care Facilities

Infection Control Assessment Tool for Outpatient Settings

Infection Control Assessment Tool for Hemodialysis Facilities

 

Chicago Health Alerts

The Chicago Health Alert Network (HAN) is CDPH's primary method of sharing information about urgent and emerging public health situations with Chicago healthcare facilities, clinicians, laboratories and partner agencies.

Sign up for HAN notifications!

 

Other useful tools:

XDRO Registry

XDRO (extensively drug resistant organisms) registry improves inter-facility communication; healthcare facilities can query the XDRO registry to see whether a patient has been previously reported as CRE or C. auris positive. The first CRE or C. auris positive culture per patient stay must be reported to the XDRO registry.

Inter-facility infection prevention transfer form

The inter-facility infection prevention transfer form was developed as part of a regional effort to improve communication between acute and long-term healthcare facilities. The purpose of the form is to convey information about a patient’s isolation precautions and the reason for their implementation to the receiving facility. The sending facility should record current infection and colonization information. The form is not intended to be a comprehensive documentation of microbiologic history and does not replace review of medical records and communication between care providers. 

Please fill out this form and send it with all patients being transferred between facilities, regardless of whether or not they require isolation.

 

Overview of HAIs

Below is some essential information from CDC on infections associated with invasive devices and procedures. Additionally, it is important to be aware of specific organisms and diseases often associated with healthcare settings. 

Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)

Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI)

Surgical Site Infection (SSI)

Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP)

More information on Specific Diseases and Organisms