Long Term Care Facility Respiratory Tract Infection Study

To: Long-Term Care Facility administrators, infection preventionists, and medical directors From: Catherine Emanuel, MPH; Healthcare-Associated Infections/Antimicrobial Resistance Program The Healthcare-Associated Infections Program is partnering with the CDC to pilot a new study project focusing on respiratory tract infection surveillance in long-term care facilities. The purpose of this project is to test some definitions and tools that can be used to conduct surveillance for respiratory tract infections, and determine the feasibility of using these definitions and tools as part of the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network reporting. This will help us understand what are the capabilities and current processes for conducting respiratory tract infection surveillance in LTCFs are, assess the burden of using the new tools and definitions and the feasibility of their use, as well as understand if the instructions and data collection forms are comprehensive and user friendly. Participating facilities will have an opportunity to give their feedback and input to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network on these new surveillance tools before they are put into practice. We anticipate this project starting in late May to early June, and would like to gauge the interest of LTCF partners in participating. Facilities that are certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as either Nursing Homes or Skilled Nursing Facilities are eligible to participate. If you would like to learn more, or are interested in participating, please email Catherine.Emanuel@state.co.us.