About Healthcare Associated Infections

You can get an infection while getting medical care. These infections are called healthcare-associated infections, or HAIs. You can get a healthcare associated infection of the blood, urinary tract, lungs, skin, and surgical sites. 

Information About Common HAIs

• Central line-associated bloodstream Infection (CLABSI)
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
• Surgical site infections (SSI)
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• C. difficile (C. diff)
  
• Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)

Basic Prevention Information

• How can I prevent getting a HAI when I go to a healthcare facility?
  
• Where can I find more information about clostridioides difficile infections?
• What do I do if someone at home has MRSA?
• What do I do if someone at work has MRSA?

About the Nebraska DHHS HAI Program

Nebraska’s HAI Program works with public health partners to reduce HAIs by: 

• Reviewing the numbers of HAIs and lab reports to detect resistant organisms or outbreaks earlier
• Supporting programs that encourage the correct use of antibiotics to reduce resistance to antimicrobials and side effects
• Reviewing and supporting practices for infection control at healthcare facilities
• Educating the public
• Educating healthcare professionals
  

Emerging HAI Organism

Candida auris (also called C. auris) is a fungus that causes serious infections. No cases of Canida auris had been confirmed in Nebraska. Facilities/laboratories suspecting C. auris should contact the state health department immediately. The State HAI team will help facilitate isolate submission to the Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network (ARLN) in Minnesota for confirmation.

Other emerging organisms include CRE (Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae), CRPA (Carbapenem Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and CRAB (Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter baumanii). Please see the page on antimicrobial resistance.