Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection
Recent media has highlighted one of the most common antibiotic-resistant-bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In the US, over 2 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and more than 23,000 people die due to these infections. Anyone can get MRSA and infections range from mild to very serious, even life-threatening. Most MRSA infections are skin infections and are generally mild. [...]
Empower Newsletter Debut
This month our department shared the first monthly Empower Newsletter focusing on policy development and implementation of the Empower Standards. Empower is a collaborative effort throughout ADHS. The Bureau of Child Care Licensing enrolls centers and small group homes in Empower and monitors implementation. The Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity develops and provides materials, support, and training for Empower [...]
International Infection Prevention Week
International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety and promotes the belief that everyone plays a role in infection prevention. As IIPW expands, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). In response to this important need, the Governor of Arizona has declared October 18-24 [...]
Aiming for TB elimination
Tuberculosis (TB) incidence continues to decline nationwide. This ancient disease is still around, but just less so. In Arizona last year, there were 193 cases of tuberculosis. Compared to 573 cases fifty years ago, that’s a significant decrease. TB programs aren’t satisfied with this decrease; instead programs actively work toward the complete elimination of tuberculosis. To help with that, National [...]
IT Team has Integral Role with Launch of New RBHA’s
The integrated behavioral and physical health contracts for the northern region (Health Choice Integrated Care), and the southern region (Cenpatico Integrated Care) launched October 1, and Information Technology Services, part of the Division of Planning and Operations, has been tirelessly working over this for the past year to help with the launch. Over the last year, our IT team successfully [...]
Overview of Arizona’s Infectious Diseases Report Released
A new report published by our Office of Infectious Disease Services examines the epidemiology of selected infectious diseases in recent years. The report contains an overview of Arizona's surveillance system, graphs and maps on more than 25 different reportable conditions and links to other ADHS tables and reports for 2008-2013. Among many other topics, the report contains sections showing an [...]