Qualitative Assessment of a State Partner-Facilitated Health Care-Associated Infection Prevention National Collaborative.

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded a 3-year national collaborative focused on facilitating relationships between health care-associated infection (HAI) prevention stakeholders within states and improving HAI prevention activities within hospitals. This program-STRIVE (States Targeting Reduction in Infections via Engagement)-targeted hospitals with elevated rates of common HAIs. To use qualitative methods to better understand STRIVE's effect on state partner relationships and HAI prevention efforts by hospitals. Qualitative case study, by U.S. state. 7 of 22 eligible STRIVE state partnerships. Representatives from state hospital associations, state health departments, and other participating organizations (for example, Quality Innovation Networks-Quality Improvement Organizations), referred to as "state partners." Phone interviews (n = 17) with each organization were conducted, recorded, and transcribed. State partners reported that relationships with each other and with participating hospitals improved through STRIVE participation. The partners saw improvements in hospital-level HAI prevention activities, such as improved auditing and feedback practices and inclusion of environmental services in prevention efforts; however, some noted those improvements may not be reflected in HAI rates. Many partners outlined plans to sustain their partner relationships by working on future state-level initiatives, such as opioid abuse prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. Only 7 participating states were included; direct feedback from participating hospitals was not available. Although there were no substantial changes in aggregate HAI rates, STRIVE achieved its goal of improving state partner relationships and coordination. This improved collaboration may lead to a more streamlined response to future HAI outbreaks and public health emergencies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.