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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is the term used for an infection that occurs in a patient as a direct consequence of the healthcare interventions being delivered to them.  HAIs are one of the major types of adverse events that can occur in the healthcare environment and are a considerable patient safety concern.  HAIs represent a diverse group of complications, ranging from infections that occur in a surgical wound to pneumonias among patients on ventilators.  They vary based on the reason that the patient is receiving care, the type of interventions being administered, the portion of the healthcare system being used by the patient, and the patient's underlying health status and circumstances.  HAIs also vary in terms of their impact on the patient, the outcome and their cost.  They can be relatively minor and easily treatable or they can result in significant patient deterioration, longer hospital stays and even death.  As a group, HAIs are considered among the leading causes of death in the United States and have been estimated to cost the health care system tens of billions of dollars annually.

    The Division of Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention (HAIP) within the Bureau of Epidemiology is based on a program first established to execute the Department of Health's responsibilities created by Act 52 of 2007. Today, the mission of the program is to protect patients, residents, visitors, and health care personnel as well as promote safety, quality, and value in the health care delivery system. Activities are conducted in the areas of outbreak response and prevention, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance and tracking of healthcare-associated infections, and infection control plan review.

    Contact Us

    717-425-5422 (phone)
    RA-DHHAI@pa.gov

    The Steward

    The HAIP Division newsletter focusing on infection prevention and reducing antimicrobial resistance through antimicrobial stewardship.

    Sign up to receive The Steward. 
    Please include your name, email address, facility and role in your request to receive The Steward.