HAIs are infections people can develop as a result of receiving medical care.  HAIs can happen in any healthcare facility, including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, hemodialysis facilities, and long-term care facilities. A wide variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses, or other, less common pathogens can cause HAIs.

About Us

The ICAR Unit is part of the New Jersey Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Service and specializes in infection prevention and control across healthcare settings. Our team of experienced professionals partners with facilities to strengthen infection prevention programs and practices that protect patients and staff and support continuous quality improvement. We bring expertise across acute care, long-term care, hemodialysis, surgical, and outpatient settings.

ICAR Consultations

We offer free, non-regulatory infection prevention and control consultations that deliver practical, real-world guidance. Whether responding to an outbreak or enhancing routine practices, we work alongside your team to identify opportunities, reduce risk, and build sustainable solutions.

• Prevention-focused consultations take a comprehensive approach to strengthening infection prevention programs and everyday practices.
• Containment-focused consultations provide targeted support to interrupt transmission and manage outbreaks effectively.

What to expect:

• Collaborative review of your infection prevention program and practices 
• Identification of strengths and actionable opportunities for improvement
• Tools and resources to support best practices and regulatory readiness
• Strategies to enhance outbreak preparedness and response
• Follow-up support to help sustain improvements over time