Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Nephrology - The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is pleased to provide a proposal in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Solicitation No: RFA-CK20-2003, Improving Clinical and Public Health Outcomes through National Partnerships to Prevent and Control Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease Threats. This proposal, entitled Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Nephrology, is written to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for Americans with kidney diseases. COVID-19 is the highest priority infectious disease threat currently. However, the project structure, strategies, and deliverables can be repurposed to address other infectious diseases as well. ASN recognizes that COVID-19 and other infectious diseases pose a major risk to the kidney community due to the vulnerability of its patient population and healthcare workers caring for the millions of Americans with kidney diseases or failures. To support its application, ASN brings a deep and thorough understanding of kidney diseases, a critical understanding of persistent infections and their effect on people with kidney diseases, a strong contingent of champions and advocates for infection prevention, and a proven history of success in engaging nephrologists and other members of the kidney care team to identify and confront the barriers to infection prevention across the dialysis care spectrum. Utilizing a proven plan to engage subject matter experts to lead the project and create a project roadmap that includes a landscape analysis, needs assessment, educational, communications, and evaluations plans, ASN stands ready to adapt the most relevant information for infection prevention best practices, as well as to train kidney professionals in infection control and prevention in kidney healthcare settings. The achievements of this project will be routinely communicated to ASN’s nationwide membership to ensure broad adoption. Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Nephrology has three long-term outcomes: 1) fewer healthcare-associated infections among Americans with kidney diseases and their healthcare workers, 2) fewer community-acquired infections across public and private settings, and 3) improved clinical outcomes among kidney patients who are at increased risk from COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases. ASN will achieve these goals through four strategies. First, ASN will disseminate existing and emerging best practices and guidance to its 21,000 members through a comprehensive communications plan to inspire adoption. Second, ASN’s panels of expert nephrologists, infectious disease specialists, human factors engineers, leadership consultants, and patients (“leadership panels”) will inform and support the CDC in its efforts to create tools and best practices in infection prevention and control while adapting these resources for kidney care settings. Third, ASN’s leadership panels will develop an educational series and online module training series focusing on the latest best practices of infection prevention and control. They will provide education and resources on how to create and maintain safe kidney health settings in the amidst of COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. Fourth, ASN will continually monitor and evaluate all the project’s activities to refine and improve its strategies and to evaluate the long-term goals of the project through compiling internal data, convening regular meetings with all the stakeholders, and assessing national databases like NHSN and USRDS. Through the Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Nephrology project, ASN and CDC will forge national partnerships, prioritize initiatives, provide guidance, promote best practices, and build on previous collaborations. Together, ASN and the CDC can improve clinical and public health for Americans with kidney diseases, including infection prevention and the control of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).