Epidemiological Data: Healthcare Associated Infections

The HCAI & AMR Department of the Centre for Infections is responsible for a range of national surveillance programmes that collect epidemiological data on a number of healthcare associated infections (HCAI) and monitor resistance to antibiotics.  These include:

• Surveillance of routine laboratory reports of bacteraemia for a variety of micro-organisms, some of which are associated with healthcare settings.
• Surveillance of bacteraemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA).
• Surgical Site Infection Surveillance Service (SSISS) and the mandatory surveillance of surgical site infection following orthopaedic surgery.
• Surveillance of Clostridium difficile associated infection.
• Surveillance of enterococcus spp. and Glycopeptide resistant enterococci (GRE)

The department coordinates the UK contribution to the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System, EARSS (which collects data on selected organisms enabling rates of antimicrobial resistance to be compared across Europe) and Hospitals in Europe Link for Infection Control through Surveillance, HELICS (which collects data on selected HCAI to enable comparison of rates across Europe).

We also participate in a range of projects focused on HCAI, from evaluating computer systems for use in infection control settings to assessment of mortality associated with HCAI.

The staff of HCAI&AMR department are involved in advising and educating healthcare professionals on the surveillance, prevention and control of HCAI and antimicrobial resistance.  We also work with the Laboratory of Healthcare Associated Infection and the Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring and Reference Laboratory to provide advice in investigating and managing outbreaks of infection or incidents related to healthcare associated infection.