​​San Francisco Bay Area Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Prevention Collaborative

Overview
Together with local public health departments, the HAI Program convened a carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) prevention collaborative among acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Each facility participated in an onsite infection prevention assessment, committed to a facility-specific action plan, and engaged staff at quarterly in-person learning sessions. Forty-five healthcare facilities worked together to develop and implement a CRE prevention strategy in the region.

Goals and Objectives
Prevent the emergence and transmission of CRE within and between healthcare facilities in the region through the following objectives:

• Enhance the ability of healthcare facilities to identify epidemiologically concerning CRE by strengthening laboratory surveillance
• Improve implementation of CRE prevention strategies
• Enhance communication and coordination of care to ensure appropriate infection prevention and control precautions are maintained when patients with CRE transfer between facilities

Participating Facilities and Organizations

• 18 hospitals
• 2 long-term acute care hospitals
• 25 skilled nursing facilities
• 5 local health departments

Outcomes

• Provided educational and infection prevention resources to participating acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities
• Established a forum for local partners to build relationships, and share and discuss best practices
• Built local public health department capacity for CRE and HAI prevention activities in preparation for statewide CP-CRE reporting

Testimonial
The Director of Nursing [now] speaks to the local health department on a regular basis. We work closely with public health to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. – Participating Facility

For more information on the San Francisco Bay Area CRE Prevention Collaborative, contact HAIProgram@cdph.ca.gov.