Your input needed: Update List of Supplemental Healthcare Staffing Agencies

 

To: Facility Administrators From: CDPHE, HCPF, and CDLE It’s time to update the list of Supplemental Healthcare Staffing Agencies that healthcare facilities in Colorado are using. Colorado Revised Statute (C.R.S.) § 8-4-125 requires staffing agencies providing services in Colorado to healthcare facilities that are licensed by the Department of Public Health and Environment pursuant to C.R.S. § 25-1.5-103(1)(a) to submit semi-annual reports to the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (DLSS). DLSS shares the data submitted with the Colorado Departments of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). To identify which SHSAs need to report, CDPHE and HCPF gather information about the staffing agencies they utilize from healthcare facilities. If your facility is licensed by CDPHE pursuant to C.R.S. § 25-1.5-103(1)(a), please complete the Healthcare Provider Questionnaire by October 15, 2026, including the names of any supplemental health-care staffing agencies your facility currently uses or has used during 2026. For further information, contact the DLSS Reporting and Accountability Programs by email at cdle_health_staffing@state.co.us or phone (720) 235-8291.

2026 HAI Annual Report Released

 

To: Facility Administrators and Infection Preventionists From: CDPHE Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program  The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Annual Report for 2026 is now available. This report contains 2025 rates of HAIs that Colorado health care facilities report to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment via the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). It includes infections associated with urinary catheters, central lines, dialysis, and surgeries. It also includes hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infections. Rates of HAIs from 2024 are included for comparison. The written narrative report is available now, and an updated dashboard will be available in the coming weeks. In 2025, overall rates of the following conditions were lower (better) than the national baseline: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections in acute care hospitals overall and in adult and pediatric critical care units and inpatient wards Central line-associated bloodstream infections in acute care hospitals overall, adult and pediatric critical care units and inpatient wards in acute care hospitals, and long-term acute care hospitals Clostridioides difficile infections in acute care hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facilities Overall rates of the following conditions were higher (worse) than the national baseline: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections in long-term acute care hospitals  Surgical site infections following breast surgeries and knee replacement surgeries conducted in outpatient units attached to acute care hospitals Surgical site infections following inpatient hip replacement surgeries in critical access hospitals Surgical site infections following knee replacement surgeries in ambulatory surgery centers In 2025, overall rates of the following conditions were lower (better) than the rates from 2024: Central line-associated bloodstream infections in acute care hospitals in adult and pediatric critical care units and inpatient wards Overall rates for other conditions were similar to the national baseline or suppressed due to small numbers of events. Facility-specific rates of HAIs are presented in detail. The 2026 HAI Annual Report is the first report to use the 2022 NHSN baseline. NHSN updated the baseline in 2022, meaning the risk adjustment for the standardized infection ratio (SIR) was updated to account for facility, patient, and healthcare characteristics relevant in 2022. The most recent prior baseline was updated in 2015. SIRs calculated using the 2022 baseline will not be directly comparable to SIRs calculated using the 2015 baseline. The 2015 baseline was used in the HAI annual report through 2025.  Questions about the report can be directed to the HAI Program at cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us.

Join NHSN Office Hours on 08/05 at 1 pm

 

To: Acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, critical access hospitals, outpatient hemodialysis centers, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, pediatric hospitals From: The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Please join us at our National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Colorado Group Quarterly Office Hours webinar on Wednesday, August 05, 2026 from 1:00 – 1:45 MST. The CDPHE HAI/AR program provides quarterly National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) office hours via webinar to provide updates and training related to NHSN. These are a great way to connect with the HAI/AR program at CDPHE and get answers to your questions regarding the use of NHSN and HAI/AR and antimicrobial use and resistance reporting. The next NHSN office hours will be held on August 05, 2026 from 1pm-1:45pm MT via Zoom. The agenda includes the following topics: Updates from CDPHE including the 2026 validation project and important NHSN deadlines Highlights from the 2024 annual National and State HAI Progress report NHSN Reports: How to effectively use NHSN reports for different purposes Q&A Please register for the Office Hours through Zoom. For further information please contact the CDPHE HAI AR program, cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us.

Join NHSN Office Hours on 06/03/26 at 1 pm

 

To: Acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, critical access hospitals, outpatient hemodialysis centers, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, pediatric hospitals From: The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Please join us at our National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Colorado Group Quarterly Office Hours webinar on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 from 1:00 – 1:45 MST. The CDPHE HAI/AR program provides quarterly National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) office hours via webinar to provide updates and training related to NHSN. These are a great way to connect with the HAI/AR program at CDPHE and get answers to your questions regarding the use of NHSN and HAI/AR and antimicrobial use reporting. The next NHSN office hours will be held on June 3, 2026 from 1pm-1:45pm MT via Zoom. The agenda includes the following topics: Updates from CDPHE regarding upcoming NHSN Validation Project and recent reporting changes Summary of Updates from 2026 NHSN Annual Training for HAI and AUR Troubleshooting Common Errors during AU/AR Data Uploads Q&A Register for the Office Hours through Zoom.  For further information please contact the CDPHE HAI AR program, cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us.

SSI Discussion at HAI Advisory Committee Meeting on May 26, 2026, 2-4p

 

To: Facility Administrators and Infection Preventionists From: CDPHE Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program  The next HAI Advisory Committee meeting is Tuesday, May 26, 2-4pm. During this meeting, we will discuss: Preliminary data from the HAI Annual Report Review of surgical Site Infection (SSI) surveillance definition and reporting criteria Discussion of challenges in identifying and reporting SSIs The agenda will be posted on CDPHE's HAI Advisory Committee website 24 hours prior to the meeting. We encourage interested stakeholders to join this discussion and contribute your thoughts. Contact cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us to register for the HAI Advisory Committee meeting.

HAI Advisory Committee Meeting on March 24, 2026, 2-4p

 

To: Infection Preventionists and Facility Administrators From: CDPHE Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program The next HAI Advisory Committee meeting is Tuesday, March 24, 2-4pm. During this meeting, we will discuss: 1. An overview of the Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program, HAI reportable conditions, and findings from public health surveillance The National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSNs) new 202 standardized infection ratio (SIR) baseline and adoption for use in the HAI Annual Report Outpatient dialysis facility reporting in Colorado and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) exclusion criteria for facilities that see 10 or fewer patients.  The agenda will be posted on the CDPHE website 24 hours prior to the meeting. We encourage interested stakeholders to join this discussion and contribute your thoughts. Contact cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us to register for the HAI Advisory Committee meeting. For more information about the 2022 SIR rebaselining, review the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC's) webpage on 2022 SIR Rebaseline. For more information about the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reporting requirements for outpatient dialysis facilities, review the CDC frequently asked questions document. Note that CDPHE and CMS reporting requirements may differ.

CDPHE Recruiting 2 Members for HAI Advisory Committee

 

To: Facility Administrators, Physicians, Health Insurers, Infection Preventionists, Chief Medical Officers, Medical Staff From: CDPHE Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program CDPHE is recruiting two new members of the Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory (HAI) Committee. Currently, the committee is requesting applicants for the following two positions: Physician, and Representative from a health insurer The physician must be board-certified or board-eligible physician, licensed in the state of Colorado, affiliated with a Colorado hospital or medical school, an active member of a national organization specializing in health-care epidemiology or infection control, and have demonstrated an interest and expertise in health facility infection control.  Applicants must be a resident of Colorado and must be able to contribute objectively to committee meetings from the perspective of the position. All interested and qualified individuals should apply. This position will be appointed by the Executive Director of CDPHE for a term of three years. Please see the Recruitment Letter for details. For further information, contact Nicole Harty at cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us.

NHSN Office Hours - Feb. 18, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

To: Acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, critical access hospitals, outpatient hemodialysis centers, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, pediatric hospitals From: The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) The CDPHE HAI AR program provides quarterly National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) office hours. These are held in conjunction with the NHSN Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Module (AUR) office hours. These are a great way to connect with the HAI/AR program at CDPHE, and get your questions answered regarding antimicrobial stewardship, HAIs, or NHSN reporting.  The next NHSN office hours will be held on February 18, 2026, from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m Mountain Time via Zoom. You can register here. We will discuss updates to the HAI Annual Report and NHSN AUR module. There will also be a Q&A section, so bring any questions you might have. Office hours Zoom registration:  https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqde6trzosHNIP_z82D2fBf9EAAdRmp4gE For further information, please contact the CDPHE HAI AR program, cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us.

The 2025 HAI Annual Report and HAI Dashboard have been reposted

To: Administrators and infection preventionists at acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, outpatient dialysis centers, pediatric hospitals   From: The Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment The 2025 Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Annual Report and HAI Dashboard have been re-posted to the CDPHE website. In the original September publication of the 2025 HAI Annual Report, there were errors in the data reported for surgical site infections in ambulatory surgery centers. The errors included the representation of multiple years of data reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network, rather than one year of data, for the year 2024. The corrected tables and text are included in this revised report, completed Oct. 21, 2025. For any questions, email cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us.

Infection control breach related to reprocessing of a transrectal ultrasound probe

 

To: Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Free Standing Emergency Departments From: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program recently identified that a transrectal ultrasound probe was reprocessed using low-level disinfection (LLD) instead of high-level disinfection (HLD), which was contrary to the manufacturer’s instructions for use (MIFU). This is a semi-critical device for which HLD is necessary. Failure to reprocess this device by HLD according to the MIFU may create a low risk of bacterial, viral, and bloodborne pathogens. In this scenario, the transrectal ultrasound probe was being reprocessed and supplied by a hospital vendor. We are not aware of any infections related to this event. Infection preventionists and sterile processing departments (SPDs) should review the MIFU for endocavitary probes, including transrectal ultrasound probes and similar devices such as endovaginal probes that come into contact with mucous membranes, and ensure that they are reprocessed according to the MIFU. CDC guidelines recommend the use of a new probe cover and HLD between patients, CDC. Disinfection and Sterilization Guideline. Ensure proper reprocessing by internal SPD staff and by external vendors that supply the instrument. If patients are exposed to improperly reprocessed endocavitary probes, conduct a risk assessment for infection or other harm, and consider patient notification as appropriate. Contact the Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for assistance: email cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us or call 303-692-2700.

NHSN Office Hours 11/19/25 at 1 pm

 

To: Acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, critical access hospitals, outpatient hemodialysis centers, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, pediatric hospitals From: The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) The CDPHE HAI AR program provides quarterly National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) office hours. These are held in conjunction with the NHSN Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Module (AUR) office hours. These are a great way to connect with the HAI/AR program at CDPHE, and get your questions answered regarding antimicrobial stewardship, HAIs, or NHSN reporting.  The next NHSN office hours will be held on November 19, 2025 from 1pm-1:45pm MT via Zoom. We will discuss updates to the HAI Annual Report and U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week. There will also be a Q&A section, so bring any questions you might have. Zoom link for office hours registration For further information please contact the CDPHE HAI AR program, cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us.

Apply to become a member of the Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Committee

 

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is recruiting four new members of the Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory (HAI) Committee. Currently, the committee is requesting applicants for the following positions Medical statistician OR clinical microbiologist with an advanced degree, Representative from a health insurer, Infection control practitioner from a long-term care setting, Representative from a rural hospital. Applicants must be a resident of Colorado and must be able to contribute objectively to committee meetings from the perspective of the position. All interested and qualified individuals should apply. This position will be appointed by the Executive Director of CDPHE for a term of three years. The HAI Advisory Committee was established under Colorado Revised Statute (C.R.S.) 25-3-602 to provide oversight to CDPHE for the collection and public reporting of data on HAI infection rates from health facilities. The committee typically meets every other month on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 2 - 4 p.m. CDPHE facilitates committee meetings using video conferencing. There are 11 members who represent a variety of stakeholders. Membership is voluntary. Participation on the HAI Advisory Committee is a great way to learn about HAIs and play an important role in state public health! We appreciate a diversity of input. Membership is not labor intensive, apart from participating in committee meetings. CDPHE invites qualified persons to complete and submit the fillable application with a resume or curriculum vitae by email to cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us. You may submit additional pages with the application if needed to answer the “additional questions.” The deadline for submission is October 31, 2025. The CDPHE Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program will review applicants internally before making a recommendation to the Executive Director for appointment. For more information, please see the HAI Advisory Committee Website or contact Chris Czaja MD, DrPH at christopher.czaja@state.co.us or 303-692-2700.

2025 HAI Annual Report is now available

 

To: Facility administrators and infection preventionists From: Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program The 2025 Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Annual Report from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is now available. New in 2025: There is a new dashboard of HAIs in Colorado. The dashboard allows users to quickly view and compare HAIs in reporting health care facilities. It supplements the written HAI annual report. Review the HAI annual report and HAI dashboard, and share them with your stakeholders. We have a communications toolkit with social media and graphics you can share with your health care providers or patients. Email cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us with questions.

NHSN Office Hours 08/20 at 1 pm

 

To: Acute Care Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Critical Access Hospitals, Outpatient Hemodialysis Centers, Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals, Pediatric Hospitals From: The Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) The CDPHE HAI AR program provides quarterly National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) office hours. These are held in conjunction with the NHSN Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Module (AUR) office hours. These are a great way to connect with the HAI/AR program at CDPHE, and get your questions answered regarding antimicrobial stewardship, HAIs, or NHSN reporting.  The next NHSN office hours will be held on August 20, 2025 from 1pm-1:45pm MT via Zoom. You can register here. We will discuss updates to the HAI Annual Report and AUR updates from the NHSN Annual Training. There will also be a Q&A section, so bring any questions you might have. Zoom link for office hours registration For further information please contact the CDPHE HAI AR program, cdphe_hai_ar@state.co.us.