Building National Partnerships for the Prevention of Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases - Project Abstract: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a national nonprofit organization representing more than 67,000 pediatrician members, is uniquely positioned to advance pediatric readiness for emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats under CDC-RFA-CK-26-0107. Effective prevention and control require an integrated continuum of activities including: a) adapting pediatric-specific guidance for clinical, school, child care, and community settings; b) disseminating timely information through trusted channels; c) providing education, training, and technical assistance (TA); d) developing culturally and linguistically appropriate family-facing materials; e) strengthening surveillance and early detection; f) and supporting systems-level improvements that reduce HC- and community-associated infections. Pediatricians are essential sentinels for unusual illness patterns and trusted messengers for families. Their ability to counsel on immunization, infection prevention and control (IPC), antimicrobial use, and prevention behaviors is central to PH readiness, particularly when guidance evolves rapidly or misinformation undermines confidence in evidence-based recommendations. This project will build on AAP’s long-standing infectious disease leadership, national infrastructure of 59 US-based chapters that foster local action in every state, trusted communication channels, and relationships with federal agencies, public health partners, health systems, schools, child care settings, communities, and families. AAP will translate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance and evolving evidence into pediatric practice and community action, with emphasis on preparedness planning, continuity of essential pediatric services, risk communication, infection prevention and control (IPC), antimicrobial resistance (AR) prevention, health care facility resilience, and pediatric surge capacity. AAP will implement four integrated strategies: Component 1 Programmatic infrastructure and capacity: establish the infrastructure, staffing, coordination, and evaluation systems needed to implement and continuously improve project activities. Component 2 Emerging and re-emerging pathogens: use the AAP chapter network, subject matter experts, and communication channels to disseminate and support adoption of CDC guidance; adapt guidance for pediatric clinical, school, child care, and community settings; and strengthen readiness for emerging and re-emerging pathogen outbreaks. Component 3 Antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections: implement a national training portfolio on AR, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and IPC, including instructional videos, reference materials, and Project ECHO tele-mentoring for school nurses, pediatric care teams, and allied health professionals. Component 4 Outbreak and emergency response: the AAP will activate a scalable rapid-response model that mobilizes pediatric expertise, convenes partners, develops outbreak-specific resources, provides just-in-time training and technical assistance, and uses continuous feedback to improve response effectiveness. Collectively, these activities will strengthen national partnerships and pediatric capacity to prevent, detect, prepare for, and respond to infectious disease threats affecting children and families.
