Mission:

To prevent, detect, and control healthcare-associated infections in Southern Nevada through robust epidemiologic surveillance, collaborative facility engagement, and evidence-based infection prevention practices, ensuring patient safety and public health protection.

Vision:

A Southern Nevada healthcare system where all healthcare facilities achieve optimal infection control, environmental safety, and adherence to national HAI standards, supported by a centralized, responsive public health program led by the Southern Nevada Health District.

Program Framework:

The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) HAI Program operates in the Division of Disease Surveillance and Control (DSC). The program follows a public health epidemiology centered model, emphasizing centralized surveillance, integrated response, and secure data governance.

Key activities of the HAI program include:

Reportable Diseases

Reportable Diseases

The Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 441A requires reports of specified diseases and conditions, foodborne illness outbreaks and extraordinary occurrences of illness be made to the local Health Authority. Additional regulations associated with HAI and medical healthcare facilities can be found here:

• SNHD Regulations Governing the Reporting of Diseases, Exposures, and Sentinel Health Events
• NAC 439.900-739.945 HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PATIENTS AT CERTAIN MEDICAL FACILITIES
• NAC 441A.040 amendments (LCB File No. R148-22)

Visit the Reportable Diseases and Conditions webpage for a full list of reportable diseases.

Examples of Reportable HAI-Related Organisms and Events

(This list is not all-inclusive; when in doubt, please report.)

Reportable diseases and conditions include those listed in NAC 441.A, and any condition identified by the CDC as a nationally notifiable condition. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Candida auris
• Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), including Enterobact spp., Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.
• All Carbapenemase Producing Organisms (CPO)
• Outbreak or increased incidence of any multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO), such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization or infection in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), or a specific CPO in a long-term care facility
• Single case of presumptive healthcare-associated Legionnaires’ disease
• Single case of postpartum, post-surgical, or facility outbreak of healthcare-associated invasive group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus
• Vancomycin intermediate staphylococcus aureus (VISA)
• Vancomycin resistant staphylococcus aureus (VRSA)
• Outbreak or increased incidence of any infectious agent, device- or procedure-associated infection, such as an increase in cases of patients with cultures positive for Burkholderia in an intensive care unit, or a case of post-operative or post-procedure extrapulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria
• Facility outbreak of COVID-19, influenza, pneumonia, other respiratory viral pathogen (e.g., respiratory syncytial virus), or gastroenteritis (e.g., norovirus)
• Infections suspected to be associated with contaminated medication, transfused blood products (e.g., platelets), or other distributed medical product
• Foodborne infectious disease outbreak

Facilities may also choose to report additional National Healthcare Safety Network-tracked events, including:

• Central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)
• Ventilator-associated events (VAE)
• Post-operative or surgical site infections (SSI), especially clusters or procedure-linked patterns

Outbreaks of any condition should generally be reported, even if the organism is not typically associated with healthcare settings.

To report HAI and Reportable Conditions to SNHD:

• Visit our online reportable disease form
• Fax: 702-759-1444
• Call: 702-759-1300

Certain healthcare facilities are required to report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). For more information on reporting requirements in NHSN, please visit the NHSN website.