Health Care-associated Infections

“This is a winnable battle”
— Patsy Kelso, PhD, Vermont State Epidemiologist

Healthcare -associated Infections are casued by a variety of germs that are found in healthcare setting.Some of these germs do not respond to drugs such as antibiotics, making them dangerous for all people, but especially for people who are already undergoing medical treatment.

In a medical facility, bacteria, viruses and fungi live can be passed from patient to healthcare provider to surfaces and back. We can all help to significantly lower the spread of these infections by taking precautions that will prevent transmission of these germs.

The MDRO Prevention Collaborative is just one of many project areas where the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) is pioneering efforts to eliminate MDRO and other Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) in Vermont. Browse through the links below to learn more about what VDH is doing to protect Vermont residents from HAI.

Information for the Public
Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) are infections that people acquire while receiving services at a health care facility. The Vermont Department of Health is working with Vermont hospitals, long-term care facilities and residential care facilities as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to eliminate HAI in the state. Patients, families and consumer advocates are full partners in our efforts to control HAI.

Information for Residential Care Facilities
In the fall of 2011, the Vermont Department of Health will provide infection prevention training to residential care facilities in an effort to bring stringent infection control strategies to this setting. These practices are typically associated with acute care hospitals. Topics include hand hygeine compliance and environmental cleaning.

Information for Providers
Vermont health care providers are full partners with the Department of Health in Vermont's efforts to control HAI. Providers and Acute Care acilities are required to report a number of MDRO and HAI.

Information for MDRO Collaborative Participants
The MDRO collaborative pairs long-term care facilities with acute care centers to achieve one common goal: eliminate MDROs. Quarterly learning sessions provide collaborative participants with crucial information about interventions that will enable healthcare providers to reduce the rates of HAI.

NEW: Patient Education booklets available for C.diff and VRE. Feel free to print and copy the information or you can order booklets online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HAI_Booklet_Order_Form .

Contact Us

For more information call the Vermont Department of Health at 1-800-640-4374

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