Dr. Merle Sande, IDSA past President, passed away on November 14.  Dr. Sande was instrumental in starting the effort to train HIV care providers in Uganda. The Academic Alliance Foundation has posted a tribute page in Dr. Sande’s honor.

SHEA and IDSA have joined forces to offer the SHEA/IDSA Advancements in MRSA Awards. Our goal is to support needed research, encourage innovation, and recognize advancements in MRSA prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The Advancments in MRSA Awards are sponsored by Pfizer Inc. more information and recipients

A SHEA/APIC taskforce made up members from the Joint Public Policy Group provided comments on CMS’ recently released proposed revisions to its Conditions for Coverage(CfC) for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), CMS-3887-P. letter

Dear Colleagues,

At the link, please find the letter that SHEA submitted to CMS regarding CMS' Proposed Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems and Fiscal Year 2007 Rates.

Under these proposed changes, diagnostic related group payments to hospitals would not be provided for certain hospital-acquired conditions. CMS is proposing these changes in response to an additional provision of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA), which requires hospitals to begin reporting by January 1, 2008 secondary diagnoses that are present on admission. The proposed list includes three serious preventable events, three infection related conditions, plus seven additional conditions. CMS has requested comments on the ranking of these conditions and on their clinical, coding, and prevention issues.

A taskforce led by Judene Bartley, MS, MPH, CIC and Tammy Lundstrom, MD, JD, crafted the letter, which addresses the importance of the accuracy and reliability of POA codes and of targeted measures where there has been demonstrated success with preventative interventions.

SHEA suggests that you forward this letter to your hospital's government relations department to facilitate awareness of the issue.

Best regards,

Victoria J. Fraser, MD
SHEA President

SHEA Letter

At the link please find SHEA's submitted letter on the Joint Commission's current SII as it relates to infection control standards.

After a rigorous and diligent study between SHEA and APIC, the position statement on Legislative Mandates for Use of Active Surveillance Cultures to Screen for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci is now available.  The statement concludes that mandating active screening for MRSA through legislation is unnecessary.  This, of course, is not to be construed as either association coming out against active screening; only that legislation forcing it upon healthcare institutions is unnecessary.

The organizations encourage their members to read the position statement in its entirety and to share it with both their colleagues and their administration.  We believe this was an extremely worthwhile effort on the part of both organizations.  We would also like to thank our membership for their patience in waiting for these results. document; active surveillance talking points; press release

This tool kit was written as a “how-to” document to give states and healthcare facilities facing legislative mandates to publicly report healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) practical management strategies for implementing them. It provides the components necessary for a meaningful reporting system, and includes recommendations for which indicator measures should be used. The document was prepared by the Healthcare-Associated Infection Working Group of the Joint Public Policy Committee, made up of members from SHEA, APIC, CSTE, and CDC. Tool Kit

SHEA/APIC Communication Network: Building Healthcare Capacity in the US and Internationally
The SHEA/APIC Communication Network, a cooperative agreement supported by CDC and DHQP, consists of more than 1,300 members of SHEA and APIC from 50 states, US territories, and five foreign countries. These members provide a network for the distribution and collection of routine and emergency information.

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SHEA Healthcare Epidemiology Resources and Compensation Survey
The SHEA Survey Task Force would appreciate your participation in a 5-10 minute SHEA Healthcare Epidemiology Resources and Compensation Survey. Your participation will allow us to provide meaningful, representative data on the role of healthcare epidemiologists and related infection control staff.

The survey is also available online through a link emailed to all members on October 26. If you did not receive this email and would like to complete the survey online, please contact SHEA's office at (703) 684-1006.  The electronic version of the survey will allow us to send reminders to only those who have not completed the survey. The survey responses will be stripped of any identifiers by the SHEA office before being passed on to the survey task force for analysis.

The survey may also be printed from the PDF file for either fax or mail submission.

Fax:
(703) 684-1009

Mail:
SHEA Survey
66 Canal Center Plaza
Suite 600
Alexandria, VA 22314

Your participation in this survey is voluntary. Responses are confidential and will only be reported on an aggregate basis. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this important effort.

Sincerely,

SHEA Survey Task Force
Sharon B. Wright, MD, MPH
Belinda Ostrowsky, MD, MPH
Neil O. Fishman, MD
Leonard Mermel, DO, ScM
Trish M. Perl, MD, MSc

SHEA LTCF Interest Group Conference Call
11/9/06 at 11:00 a.m. CST
Dial in: 1 (888) 481-3032; Passcode: 35920625
Discussion of past activities, position papers, HICPAC guidelines, campaigns, future efforts.
Next meeting: SHEA 2007 in Baltimore. April 14-17, 2007

IDSA and SHEA submitted comments this week in response to the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, which the White House released in May. According to IDSA and SHEA, a strengthened effort to develop pandemic vaccines should be the primary focus of the US government’s national strategy for pandemic influenza. Other strategies, such as quarantine and social distancing, can play an important back-up role to immunization. submitted comments

SHEA recognizes that it is challenging and time consuming to develop institution-specific plans, even with the availability of excellent resources such as those on CDC’s website. SHEA hopes to serve as a clearinghouse to allow members to access relevant information including influenza preparedness plans developed by SHEA members for their own facilities. Click here to access this members-only webpage. 

Members who have developed plans for their institutions, and are willing to share them are encouraged to send their plans to SHEA Headquarters to be posted on the website. Please send your plans electronically to vleon@shea-online.org. Although SHEA will exercise some control of posted documents, it will not rigorously monitor nor take responsibility for content. If your institution’s plan changes, please notify SHEA Headquarters and resubmit the revised plan to vleon@shea-online.org.

Infectious Disease Doctors Urge Public Not to Hoard Tamiflu Groups Say National, Institutional Stockpiles Needed to Protect Against Pandemic Flu: The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) are urging members of the public not to stockpile oseltamivir (Tamiflu), amid concerns about a possible shortage of the antiviral drug that is used to treat influenza.
Press Release (.pdf file)
Stockpiling Statement (.pdf file)

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America has released online a position paper scheduled to be published in the November issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE). The document details SHEA’s position on influenza vaccination for healthcare workers (HCWs), and provides guidance for allocation of influenza vaccine to HCWs during times of vaccine shortage.

Position Paper: Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers (.pdf file)
ICHE Editorial: "The Next Battleground for Patient Safety: Influenza Immunization of Healthcare Workers," Christoper J. Hoffman, MD, MPH, Trish M. Perl, MD, MSc (.pdf file)

The Fall 2005 SHEA/CDC Training Course in Healthcare Epidemiology will be held from October 22-25, 2005 at the Marriott San Antonio Rivercenter in San Antonio, TX.

SHEA/CDC Fall 2005 Brochure (.pdf file)
SHEA/CDC Training Course Webpage

In collaboration with CDC, APIC and SHEA have committed to developing a network of infection prevention and control, and infectious disease specialists throughout the country. Volunteer participants in the network should be key players in healthcare facilities who have insight into problems, needs, and resources in a medical/public health emergency. Our aim is to establish a real time communication network that provides rapid two-way dialogue. Click here for full text version of letter from SHEA, APIC, CDC leadership.

APIC-SHEA Survey for Communications Network (.pdf file)

Hurry Up and Wait - Preparing for Influenza
Free online CME/CEU opportunity: Influenza Preparedness Symposium from the 15th Annual Scientific Meeting of SHEA, April 2005
website

Dear SHEA Members,

Many of you are aware of an opinion editorial that was published in the New York Times on June 6, 2005 entitled “Coming Clean,” in which its author, Betsy McCaughey, discusses some of the infection control challenges facing United States healthcare institutions... complete message to the members

Link to NY Times Editorial

Link to CDC's Response to "Coming Clean"

Link to SHEA's Response to "Coming Clean"

A number of states already have laws requiring some form of public reporting of healthcare-associated infections, and many more are in the process of drafting such laws. The February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology contains the society's position paper on this topic: Public disclosure of healthcare-associated infections: the role of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (a pdf file).

The 2005 Spring SHEA/CDC Training Course in Healthcare Epidemiology will be held May 14-17, at the Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel and Suites in St. Louis, MO. Additional information is available on the SHEA Courses Page.

The second edition of the SHEA Practical Handbook for Healthcare Epidemiologists is now available. See the SHEA Book Page for more information.

The 2004 Fall Training Course in Healthcare Epidemiology will be held October 16-19, 2004 at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore, MD.  Please check the Course Brochure (PDF, 220 KB) or the SHEA Courses Page for more details.

On October 24-27, 2004, in Charleston, South Carolina, the 11th International Symposium on Staphylococcal Infections and Staphylococci (ISSSI) will take place. There will be a broad range of talks during 11 Plenary Sessions featuring clinical, epidemiologic and basic science. A SHEA member, Dr. Joseph F John, is Chair of ISSSI and encourages SHEA members to consider attending this unique meeting. For additional information, see www.isssi.org

The "Multi-society guideline for reprocessing flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes", published in the July edition of ICHE is now available on the SHEA Position Papers page.

• Vice-President (2003): Leonard A. Mermel, DO, SCM
• Vice-President (2004): Trish Perl, MD, MSc
• Treasurer: Mark Rupp, MD
• Academic Councilor: Suzanne Bradley, MD
• International Councilor: Andreas Voss, MD, PhD
• Practice Councilor: Belinda Ostrowsky, MD

(2/27) The 2003 SHEA/CDC Course in Hospital Epidemiology will be held May 3-6 at the Wyndham Atlanta in Atlanta, GA.

Program and Registration Form Now Available

Download the Program and registration form (a pdf document), or see the SHEA Courses page for more information.

Scholarship Information

Five Jonathan Freeman scholarships are available to ID fellows to help defray the cost of attending the course. This includes $500 plus waiver of the registration fee. For more information on how to apply, see the Scholarship Announcement Flyer

Applications and research proposals are being solicited for the following two year research fellowships from fellows and trainees interested in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention:

• SHEA/3M Infection Prevention Fellowship: Submitted research proposals must be for non-antibiotic prevention strategies of surgical site infections or catheter related bloodstream infections.
• SHEA/Ortho-McNeil Fellowship: Submitted research proposals must be for the study of either 1) unique interventions to control antimicrobial resistance or 2) using molecular epidemiology to study the transmission of antimicrobial resistance and develop effective interventions.

Interested applicants must submit an "Intention to Submit an Application" form that must be received by December 6, 2002. Completed applications and all supporting materials must be received by January 3, 2003. For more information, please read the SHEA Fellowships Criteria (an MS Word ".doc" file).

Intention to Submit an Application form (a pdf document).

SHEA/3M Infection Prevention Fellowship Application (an MS Word ".doc" file)

SHEA/Ortho-McNeil Fellowship Application (an MS Word ".doc" file)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just announced publication of the new HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Guideline for Healthcare Settings. Drs. John M. Boyce and Didier Pittet, both SHEA members, were co-authors of the new guideline. The complete Guideline (in-depth background section + recommendations section) appeared in the October 25, 2002 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The guideline along with promotional materials and fact sheets is available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/

To assist the Infection Control community in up-dating educational materials dealing with hand hygiene practices, the Hospital of Saint Raphael has launched a new informational Internet Web site entitled HAND HYGIENE RESOURCE CENTER at www.handhygiene.org.

An additional hand hygiene resource is available from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Partners in Your Care program.

SHEA President Barry Farr and AIDS/TB Committee Chair Michael Tapper sent a response to OSHA regarding OSHA's proposed TB rule. Following harsh criticism of the proposed rule, there was a period of inactivity. However OSHA has performed a revised risk assessment (a pdf document), and had opened a brief comment period. No changes to the proposed rule were published. SHEA's response, drafted by the AIDS/TB Committee, notes that the revised risk estimate still overestimates the risk of occupationally acquired TB. SHEA comments further on areas of the proposed rule that are particulary problematic (e.g., respirator fit testing and lack of flexibility in tuberculin skin testing), areas that were also highlighted in the Institute of Medicine's Report Tuberculosis in the Workplace.

Download SHEA's response to OSHA (an MS Word ".doc" file)

Vice President
Edward S. Wong, M.D.

Academic Councilor
John A. Jernigan, M.D., M.S.

Practice Councilor
August J. Valenti, M.D., F.A.C.P.

You are invited to apply to become one of the 40 hospitals selected to join a new study: Trial to Reduce Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Errors (TRAPE) study. Deadline for responses: July 1, 2002. The TRAPE study is a new project that is part of an on-going collaboration between the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The study is funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

For more information, read the Initial Information Flyer (an MS Word ".doc" file).

If you would like to apply, complete the Trape Expression of Interest (an MS Word ".doc" file) and submit by the July 1 deadline.

SHEA is pleased to announce the formation of two new training opportunities for Infectious Diseases Fellows. The grants are co-sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) with Ortho McNeil and GlaxoSmithKline. Both awards are for one fellow for two years in support of fellowship training and research activities in specific areas related to healthcare epidemiology. Application deadline is December 15th.

For more information, read the complete announcement, available as an MS Word document or as a pdf document.

Announcement-Word   Announcement-pdf

Application forms:

For the GlaxoSmithKline Surgical Infections Fellowship:
GSK-Word   GSK-pdf

For the Ortho McNeil Antimicrobial Management Fellowship:
Ortho-Word   Ortho-pdf

Hand Hygeine Draft Available

The HICPAC "Draft Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings" is available for public comment until December 24, 2001. The draft document was not published in the "Federal Register".

The draft guideline, the "Federal Register Notice of availability and request for comment", and on-line request and comment pages are available at the following web site: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/hhguide.htm
(posted 11/09/01)

Dear SHEA Members:

As you are all aware, earlier this year Dr. Michael Decker, the Editor of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE) announced that he had taken a new position in the Pharmaceutical industry and that he would have to step down as Editor. At that time, the SHEA Publications Committee announced the position. We were fortunate to receive applications from outstanding individuals. After a thorough review process, I am extremely happy to announce that Dr. Barry Farr, Hospital Epidemiologist, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia has accepted the position of Editor, ICHE. We are fortunate to have someone like Barry, with his respected scientific stature, extensive bibliography, and wide experience in healthcare epidemiology, accept this important position. I am sure that all of you join me in wishing Barry many successful years as the Editor. Please join me in congratulating Barry.

Obviously, during this year, maintaining the editorial office and keeping up with the large number of submissions to the Journal has been challenging. I want to thank Mike Decker, Susan Cantrell and the rest of the Nashville ICHE staff for all their hard work. They will continue to play a critical role in the transition of the editorial office.

We will face many challenges as we transition from Nashville to Charlottesville. We ask your patience during this process. Barry, the ICHE staff, and the SHEA Board are committed to catching up with reviews of the many submissions; virtually all the manuscripts submitted over the year [except for recent submissions in the last two months] have been reviewed and the authors notified of their disposition or these manuscripts currently are completing the editorial process. If you have submitted one of these manuscripts, if you have not been notified, we hope to notify you of the status of these manuscripts very soon. We appreciate your patience.

Our hope is that we will be able to open the Charlottesville office in October (for new submissions) and have it fully operational by early 2002. In my discussions with Barry, he is committed to insuring that all of our members and others who subscribe and/or submit manuscripts are served expediently. Over the past year, the review processing time has lengthened. We hope to dramatically reduce the turnaround time from submission to publication. If you have any ideas for improvement of ICHE, please contact either me or Barry. I am certain that with Barry's energy and enthusiasm, that ICHE will be elevated to an even higher level than in the past. Please join me in welcoming Barry to this important position.

Sincerely yours,
Bill

William R. Jarvis, M.D.
President, SHEA

The Nominations committee has issued a call for nominations. See the Members Only section for details.

The entries for the 1999 SHEA Handwashing Poster Contest are available for viewing on the handwashing poster contest page.

Summer 2000 Newsletter (a pdf document)