The purpose of this EIP-ACA FOA is to support state and local health departmentsÂ’ surveillance infrastructure through enhancement of the epidemiology and laboratory capacity of the existing EIP network.
Over the past 15 years, the EIP network has proved to be a national resource for conducting
active, population-based surveillance and special studies for invasive bacterial diseases, foodborne pathogens, healthcare associated infections (HAIs), influenza, and many other infectious diseases.
The network has been instrumental in measuring the impact of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, informing and evaluating treatment guidelines for Group B Streptococcus, estimating the burden of foodborne illness, documenting the emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and monitoring the safety of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine as part of the influenza vaccine safety network (http://www.cdc.gov/ncpdcid/deiss/eip/publications.html).
EIP activities and special studies frequently shift according to priorities for infectious disease emergency response and program areas.
The flexibility of the network is ideal for implementing activities in response to rapidly changing scientific priorities.
These investments in the basic infrastructure support multiple activities at each site and are critical for a comprehensive, efficient, and coordinated approach to general program management from which all activities benefit.
EIP sites may conduct up to 65 different surveillance and research activities related to infectious diseases during the course of a year.
These activities require investments in personnel time to implement or modify, including building collaborative relationships with local hospitals, laboratories, and healthcare providers; submitting applications to multiple institutional review boards for dozens of studies; hiring, supervising and training staff; facilitating information exchange between CDC, local epidemiologists and laboratories; and actively participating in numerous conference calls, conferences, and meetings with CDC investigators.
Given the significant activities of EIP sites, this FOA provides an opportunity to enhance support for the basic infrastructure of the EIP network.