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SHEA Research Network

The SHEA Research Network (SRN) is a consortium of over 100 hospitals collaborating on multi-center research projects of interest to the SHEA membership to identify important gaps in the healthcare epidemiology science base and address them by contributing data and expertise. 

All hospitals with a dedicated site PI are able to join the SRN and participate in future projects. Approval of proposed research projects is determined by the SRN Review Committee upon submission of a concept form.

Engaging the Network

Investigators interested in engaging the SRN for a study should review and complete the online Study Proposal Concept Form and submit it to SRN@shea-online.org.

Proposals funded by an external source or those seeking funding from an external source will be reviewed for project significance and alignment with the mission and capabilities of the SRN. For unfunded proposals, consideration will also be given to the burden on participating sites. If the research proposal aligns with the mission and capabilities of the SRN, the concept sheet alone may be sufficient and will be approved by the SRN Application Review Committee. Review of proposals will not commence until all materials are received.

Join the SRN

Submit a Proposal

Apply for a Letter of Support

SRN Leadership Team

 

Fee Structure

  • Federally funded grants (excluding training or career development grants): $2,000
  • Corporate funded grants: $5,000
  • Fees cover review and solicitation of members; they do not cover administrative support and data management.
  • Proposals that require additional resources (e.g. Adelphi process with multiple rounds of surveying) will be assessed an additional fee to cover administration of the proposal. The amount will be determined following review of the proposal.
  • Proposals that are not accepted will not be charged.
  • Fees will not be assessed for unfunded research projects (i.e. conducted with no visible means of support).

Examples of High-Priority Topics (1)

HAI:
  • Evaluate HAI prevention across the spectrum of healthcare especially non-acute care settings;
  • Evaluate approaches for dissemination and implementation of HAI prevention methods;
  • Evaluate role of electronic monitoring tools in managing hand hygiene compliance.
Device-associated infections (DAI, including CLABSI, CAUTI, VAE):
  • Examine the epidemiology of DAI in non-ICU settings;
  • Test novel technology and strategies for DAI prevention such as impregnated devices and maintenance bundles;
  • Examine the reliability and validity of surveillance definitions in different patient populations and their impact on outcomes and practices.
SSI:
  • Compare various postoperative wound care strategies for reducing SSIs;
  • Assess the impact of an operating room checklist on SSI rates;
  • Evaluate patient-specific risk factor modification (such as smoking cessation) strategies for reducing SSIs.
MDROs and Clostridium difficile:
  • Assess transmission dynamics and novel interventions to prevent transmission in acute and non-acute care settings;
  • Evaluate the role of the environment and the impact of environmental disinfection on transmission;
  • Examine the role of laboratory technology to identify MDROs and guide infection prevention measures.
Employee health:
  • Identify approaches to improve influenza and other vaccinations in healthcare personnel (HCP) in settings where mandatory vaccination is not feasible;
  • Evaluate practices to prevent needlestick injuries and other bloodborne pathogen exposures in HCP and explore methods for post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of HIV, HCV, and HBV;
  • Assess the role of HCP in transmitting organisms including MDROs to patients.
Respiratory viruses:
  • Evaluate the effects of barrier precautions on respiratory virus transmission;
  • Assess the acceptability of N-95 masks for prevention of respiratory virus transmission;
  • Evaluate the role of novel diagnostics in preventing nosocomial respiratory viruses and identifying emerging respiratory viruses.
Antimicrobial stewardship:
  • Evaluate the impact of antimicrobial stewardship programs on emergence of resistance, patient outcomes, and cost;
  • Explore the benefits of alternative methods for antimicrobial stewardship such as post-prescription review;
  • Assess the use of performance metrics for antimicrobial stewardship.
Environment:
  • Compare available touchless cleaning technologies for efficacy and acceptability;
  • Assess favored methods for surveillance of environmental cleaning;
  • Assess the role of hospital epidemiologists and infection preventionists in changing policy related to environmental cleaning

(1) The evolving landscape of healthcare-associated infections: recent advances in prevention and a road map for research. Safdar N, Anderson DJ, Braun BI, Carling P, Cohen S, Donskey C, Drees M, Harris A, Henderson DK, Huang SS, Juthani-Mehta M, Lautenbach E, Linkin DR, Meddings J, Miller LG, Milstone A, Morgan D, Sengupta S, Varman M, Yokoe D, Zerr DM; Research Committee of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2014 May;35(5):480-93.