ATLANTA (April 7, 2021) -- Researchers and healthcare professionals specializing in healthcare epidemiology, infectious diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, and infection prevention will meet online on April 12 for Decennial Day to focus on global solutions for preventing healthcare-associated infections and addressing emerging pathogens and antibiotic resistance in healthcare. The event precedes Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America's Spring 2021 virtual conference.
The daylong program, co-hosted by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will include presentations on the future of surveillance for healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic resistant pathogens; preventing transmission of infections within healthcare facilities and among communities; future innovations in patient care; and identifying effective practices for improving healthcare quality for the next decade.
"We have achieved great progress in infection prevention in the last decade, however, the COVID pandemic has revealed gaps in infection control and the need to challenge ourselves to find ways to expand prevention and containment approaches across all healthcare settings in the United States and around the world. We need to continue to implement what works and identify new interventions that will keep us moving forward and ensure safe healthcare is delivered at every encounter," said Denise Cardo, MD, Director, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC. "The Decennial brings us together to review the lessons learned from the past, from the pandemic, and to identify the challenges and opportunities we need to address in the future to enhance patient safety and healthcare quality."
Decennial Day sessions are titled:
- Opening Plenary: Combating Emerging and Enduring Pathogens including AMR: A focus on healthcare strategies
- Data for action: The future of surveillance for healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance
- Bugs Without Borders: Preventing Transmission in Healthcare
- Innovation: Big ideas that will impact patient care, HAI prevention, and AMR Containment
- Closing Plenary: Preparing for the Next Decade of Progress
In addition to Decennial Day, SHEA and CDC will host webinars throughout the 2021 calendar year highlighting the most relevant presentations from the 6th Decennial International Conference on Healthcare Associated Infections, which was cancelled in March 2020 due to the evolving global situation with COVID-19. SHEA and CDC will also collaborate with the International Consortium for Prevention & Infection Control (ICPIC) to bring Decennial 2020 content to the ICPIC 2021 Conference this coming September.
"The Decennial event has provided an opportunity each decade to review developments in epidemiology and to anticipate and discuss the future of our work with colleagues around the world," said SHEA President Mary Hayden, MD. "International sharing and collaboration are more important than ever to addressing these issues in a meaningful way."
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Decennial Conference is held once every 10 years and reviews the advances of the previous decade and the opportunities and trends for the fields of healthcare epidemiology, infectious diseases, infection prevention, and antibiotic stewardship for the future. For more information, visit http://www.decennial2020.org. #Decennial2020
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) is a professional society representing more than 3,000 physicians and other healthcare professionals around the world who possess expertise and passion for healthcare epidemiology, infection prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship. The society's work improves public health by establishing infection-prevention measures and supporting antibiotic stewardship among healthcare providers, hospitals, and health systems. This is accomplished by leading research studies, translating research into clinical practice, developing evidence-based policies, optimizing antibiotic stewardship, and advancing the field of healthcare epidemiology. SHEA and its members strive to improve patient outcomes and create a safer, healthier future for all. Visit SHEA online at shea-online.org, facebook.com/SHEApreventingHAIs and twitter.com/SHEA_Epi.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC works 24/7 protecting America's health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America's most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.
The Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP), based in CDC, has as its mission to protect patients, protect healthcare personnel, and promote safety, quality, and value in both national and international healthcare delivery systems.