Introduction
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Infection Control & Prevention is primarily responsible for conducting surveillance of hospital-acquired infections and investigating and controlling outbreaks or infection clusters among patients and health care personnel. Infection Control personnel also evaluate new and existing products, examine the latest innovations in personal protective equipment and safe needle devices, and conduct detailed special projects that investigate infection control issues at VUMC and the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital (VCH). The Infection Control Practitioners have educational programs to assure quality of patient care as well as developing infection surveillance policies and procedures.
The department calculates rates of hospital-acquired infections, collates antibiotic susceptibility data, performs analysis of aggregated infection data and provides comparative data to national benchmarks over time. These data are provided to various boards and committees on a routine basis. Working with various physicians and departments, the Department of Infection Control & Prevention also provides data for research and publications. We work closely with the Occupational Health Clinic and Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety, the Center for Clinical Improvement, and Risk Management, as well as state and local health departments.
Please use the menu at left to learn more about our department's functions and activities.
DEPARTMENT OF INFECTION CONTROL & PREVENTION ON-CALL PAGER
835-1205
In the News:
H1N1 Influenza Cases Detected in the United States: Alteration in Guidance for VMC Clinicians
Activity of the H1N1 influenza virus continues to increase in Tennessee. For the most up-to-date information on H1N1 influenza, please go the VMC staff H1N1 Influenza webpage located here.
Concerned/Questions About Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?
With the recent publicity regarding MRSA, you may have questions about how to prevent and treat MRSA infections. Click on the links below for information, including patient and clinician Fact Sheets from the CDC.
Community-associated MRSA Information for the Public
Community-associated MRSA Information for Clinicians
Department of Infection Control & Prevention in Vanderbilt Medicine
The Department of Infection Control & Prevention was recently highlighted in a series of articles in the Fall 2006 issue of Vanderbilt Medicine magazine. Click on the links below for more:
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VUMC Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
The Department of Emergency Preparedness in conjunction with the Department of Infection Control & Prevention and the Occupation Health Clinic has developed an online education lecture that provides information on personal and institutional preparedness for pandemic influenza. The lecture may be accessed on the Department of Emergency Preparedness website (link).
