New Targeted MDRO HAI Outbreak Disclosure List

This month, the Washington State Department of Health Healthcare-Associated Infections/Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Section is launching an HAI outbreak disclosure list that will describe current and recent healthcare outbreaks involving targeted multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO). As a reminder, targeted MDROs include Candida auris and carbapenemase producing organisms. The information on the disclosure list will be available to local public health officials and healthcare facility infection preventionists.

Over the past few years, hospitals expressed concern that public health was aware of outbreaks with MDROs that could potentially spread to their healthcare facilities. However, the information was not shared and therefore infection preventionists in these facilities were unable to take preventive actions to protect their patients. DOH believes that transparency about healthcare outbreaks can spur improvements in infection prevention and make healthcare safer.

The outbreak webpage will describe HAI outbreaks, type of targeted MDRO outbreaks that are included, why we are providing the information, and criteria for defining an outbreak and determining when the outbreak ends. DOH will also provide infection prevention recommendations to healthcare facilities caring for patients who have recently stayed at an outbreak facility.

This is what the targeted MDRO HAI outbreak table will look like:

*Footnotes will indicate what categories of patients are screened for the MDRO in that facility.

Healthcare facility infection preventionists or individuals who work for an LHJ can access the outbreak disclosure list. Please contact [email protected] to request access or for more information.