CDC estimates that in 2002, 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths occurred in United States hospitals; healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) have an estimated $33 billion in added healthcare costs and are among the top ten leading causes of death in the U.S.

In an effort to eliminate healthcare-associated infections, the Department of Health and Human Services has developed an action plan with five-year national prevention targets and metrics. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to help Colorado healthcare facilities work on specific prevention targets.

CDPHE has contracted with CHA to lead an infection prevention collaborative, which has the main purpose of providing technical assistance, education and resources to hospitals and other healthcare facilities over the course of two years. Colorado healthcare facilities will focus on the following two prevention targets:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs)
• Clostridium difficile

Interested healthcare facilities that would like to participate in the infection prevention collaborative should complete the form below and submit it to the Director of Clinical Improvement and Patient Safety.