Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) for Healthcare Providers

Information and resources regarding Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs).

Changes to Infectious Disease Reporting Fax Numbers (3/16/2022, NH Health Alert Network)

Patients can get infections when getting healthcare. These are called Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs). HAIs are commonly caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens (harmful germs), which may lead to sepsis (infection that has spread to the bloodstream) or death.

Antimicrobial Stewardship

New Hampshire Antimicrobial Resistance Advisory Workgroup (ARAW)

Since Fall 2016, the NH HAI program has been working closely with the Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) leaders, the Foundation for Healthy Communities' (FHC) Partnership for Patients, and the CMS-contracted Quality Improvement Organization/Network (QIO/QIN) to discuss activities, unite efforts, join resources, and to pull together the NH Antimicrobial Resistance Advisory Workgroup (ARAW). The ARAW provides advice on current and future AR activities, data collection, and strategic planning. This workgroup is made up of a mixed group of people who have a stake in the efforts of the ARAW, as well as experts from a variety of related fields.

Group Skills Representation

Medicine: Infectious Disease, Allergy, Emergency, and Primary Care
Pharmacy
Epidemiology (data collection)
Public Health
Dentistry
Veterinary Medicine
Facility and Professional Licensing
Hospital
Outpatient: Urgent Care, Primary Care
Long Term Care
Rural Health
Academia (teaching/research at the college level)

This list does not include all members as the workgroup continues to grow. If you would like to join this workgroup, or know of someone who would, please email us at dhhs.hai.program@dhhs.nh.gov.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Resources

The HAI Program is available to provide resource pointers in strengthening your facilities’ stewardship program. Please contact us at dhhs.haiprogram@dhhs.nh.gov or (603) 271-4496 with any questions or concerns.

One Health Efforts in Antimicrobial Resistance

The ARAW group is a strong supporter of One Health. One Health uses a team approach, and is made up of many agencies across different fields of work, working at the local, national, and global levels. The goal of One Health is to achieve the best health possible for people, animals, and the environment.

For more information on One Health initiatives and the role of veterinary medicine in antimicrobial resistance, see the links below.

New Hampshire Statewide Antibiogram

An antibiogram provides a recap of antibiotic weakness patterns for selected bacteria and antibiotics. This when combined with an expert healthcare provider, guides the best treatment for patients. Annual reviews of hospital antibiograms, to create a statewide antibiogram, allows DPHS to assess trends and geographic location patterns of antimicrobial resistance in New Hampshire, to guide control efforts. These not only provide helpful information to direct medical treatment decisions, but also points out the successes and failures of antimicrobial stewardship programs.

Case Investigation and Surveillance

New Reportable Diseases and Materials

In November 2016, the NH DPHS updated statewide reporting requirements , which included Carbapenem Resistance Enterobacterales (CRE) and Antibiograms.

Resources regarding CRE are available below:

New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories

The New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories (PHL) play an integral role in public health data collection as a part of the CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory network (ARLN). The ARLN supports teamwork among laboratories, nationwide, while increasing the response ability to highly resistant organisms.

In collaboration with the ARLN, the HAI Program and many clinical laboratories across New Hampshire, the PHL has been collecting carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) isolates to perform molecular testing. Currently the PHL is able to utilize molecular testing to identify all known antimicrobial resistance genes of the highest concern. Findings are shared with CDC monthly, to provide the most up to date information regarding antibiotic resistant trends.

As a part of the ARLN, the PHL works hard to protect the public through identifying outbreaks as well as support creative antimicrobial resistance research.