Global Action in Healthcare Network (GAIHN)
The Global Action in Healthcare Network (GAIHN) is a global collaborative network consisting of countries, institutions, and partners at global, regional, national, and subnational levels working together to address emerging threats in healthcare settings through rapid detection and response. GAIHN also works collaboratively through its antimicrobial resistance (AR) module with CDC’s Global AR Lab & Response Network to address priority AR healthcare pathogens.
To see a list of participants for GAIHN, click below:
GAIHN-AR Module
GAIHN-HAI Module
GAIHN addresses these emerging threats through two modules:
- antimicrobial-resistant pathogens
- healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
GAIHN – AR module
Antimicrobial-resistant (AR) organisms can rapidly spread out of control both locally and globally due to transmission between patients, healthcare facilities, and even countries. Slowing and preventing the spread of emerging, highly transmissible antimicrobial resistance is possible, but coordinated, aggressive action is necessary. The GAIHN AR module seeks to prevent and contain the spread of highly resistant organisms in healthcare systems to improve patient safety, reduce the burden of AR, and contain spread of rare and novel AR before it becomes endemic. This is accomplished through engagement of laboratory and infection prevention and control (IPC) networks, real-time communication, implementation of public health measures to prevent the spread of resistant organisms and coordinated detection and response activities across partners from the local to the global level. The GAIHN AR module identifies AR-related threats in healthcare settings as a part of CDC’s Global AR Lab & Response Network. In addition, it applies evidence-based measures to prevent and contain the spread of AR threats through a network of local, regional and global level IPC experts.
GAIHN – HAI module
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections related to the receipt of healthcare services, such as central-line associated bloodstream infections or COVID-19 that is acquired in a hospital. HAIs affect millions of patients globally every year and can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality for patients as well as substantial financial losses for healthcare systems. Detecting and preventing HAIs within healthcare systems is critical to providing safe health care and protecting patients, staff and visitors. The GAIHN HAI module seeks to address HAIs in participating facilities through enhanced surveillance and diagnostics, infection prevention and control activities, and coordination of relevant local and regional public health experts.