Infection Control, Health Care, & Environmental Epidemiology (ICHEE) Program
The Infection Control, Health Care, & Environmental Epidemiology (ICHEE) Program conducts surveillance and offers education, response, and prevention-focused support to prevent and contain the spread of infections, including targeted and epidemiological important pathogens of public health concern.
The program includes the following units:
Infection Control Assessment & Response (ICAR) Unit
The ICAR Unit comprises of subject matter experts specializing in the prevention and containment of healthcare-associated infections, emphasizing patient/resident and healthcare personnel safety and quality improvement. This unit provides infection prevention and control-focused assessments and consultation to various healthcare facilities, including acute care, long-term care, hemodialysis, and other outpatient settings.
Health Care-Associated Infections & Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Unit
The Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit (HAI/AR) unit focuses on the prevention, surveillance, and containment of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), including multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). The HAI/AR unit contains subject matter experts with backgrounds in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, pharmacy, and microbiology. The HAI/AR unit investigates disease transmission associated with acute care, long-term care, hemodialysis, and various outpatient healthcare facilities. In addition to outbreak response and support, the HAI/AR unit also assists facilities with antimicrobial stewardship and the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
HAI/AR Health Education & Outreach Unit
The HAI/AR Health Education and Outreach Unit comprises of a team of health educators, infection control specialists, and health data specialists who are dedicated to the implementation of CDC’s Project Firstline (PFL) infection prevention and control (IPC) training collaborative throughout the State of New Jersey. Our goal is to provide IPC education to frontline healthcare workers in various healthcare setting types and to emphasize the importance of implementing these IPC principles and protocols throughout the workday to ensure best practice in healthcare settings. We provide basic and advanced training as well as educational tools and resources based on practices that prevent the spread of infectious disease.
Water Systems & Environmental Infection Control Unit
The Water Systems and Environmental Infection Control Unit comprises a team of epidemiologists and research scientists dedicated to the surveillance, prevention, and containment of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, including Legionella bacteria. These pathogens can lead to water-related infections in vulnerable individuals, such as patients in healthcare settings. The unit works closely with facilities to mitigate risk through improved infection prevention and water management practices.
ICHEE's Mission
Disease Investigation and Prevention
- Investigate reportable infectious diseases, including outbreaks within health care and other congregate care settings.
- Provide infection prevention and control-focused assessments and consultation to various health care facilities.
- Investigate health care-associated infections and provide control measures and recommendations to prevent further spread.
- Provide technical information about multidrug-resistant organisms, including prevention, surveillance, and containment.
Environmental Health and Safety
- Perform environmental assessments of building water systems and devices to identify and evaluate areas that could support the growth and transmission of pathogens.
- Assist facilities in performing water infection control risk assessments.
- Promote and/or bolster Water Management Programs for the prevention of Legionella and other opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens in health care settings.
Education and Training
- Organize infection prevention and control training, demonstrations, facility visits, and webinars.
- Develop accessible and culturally linguistic infection prevention and control resources.
- Prevent antimicrobial resistance through stewardship training and education.
Community and Health Care Partnerships
- Establish relationships with local health departments, health care organizations, and systems.