DOH Reminders:

A message was posted on 11/4/2014 re an important study being initiated by Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology.
This study will focus on carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). CRE are a family of bacteria that have developed resistance to powerful antibiotics known as carbapenems and are known to cause potentially fatal infections.

This initiative aims to provide an enhanced understanding of CRE trends in Pennsylvania by:

(1) estimating CRE prevalence rates at the state, regional, and county-level;

(2) determining prevailing trends in CRE detection, surveillance, and reporting methods; and

(3) assessing infection control and prevention initiatives used across the state.

This study will achieve these objectives by distributing targeted, CRE-focused questionnaires to Pennsylvania's licensed laboratories, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
You should have received two emails sent to facility administrators for all licensed long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania. The first email will contain a survey link, as well as a study overview and instructions. The second email will contain a unique, random identifier that will be used to identify survey responses and maintain facility confidentiality.
Your participation and completion of this questionnaire will be instrumental in understanding CRE.