[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36504-36505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13095]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-22-22GG; Docket No. CDC-2022-0077]


Pilot Plan for Data Collection Tools for the Interim Local Health 
Department Strategy for Response, Control, and Prevention of Healthcare 
Associated Infections (HAI) and Antibiotic Resistance (AR)

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice with comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located 
within the Department of Health and Human Services, as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of 
government information, invites the general public and other Federal 
agencies the opportunity to comment on a proposed information 
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 
notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project 
titled Pilot Plan for the Interim Local Health Department Strategy for 
Response, Control, and Prevention of Healthcare Associated Infections 
(HAI) and Antibiotic Resistance (AR). The proposed collection is 
designed to strengthen local and regional capacity to respond to, 
control, and prevent HAI/AR across all healthcare settings and in the 
community by supporting enhanced coordination between state and local 
partners and by promoting local public health, healthcare, and 
community partner networks.

DATES: CDC must receive written comments on or before August 16, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2022-
0077, by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection Review 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road 
NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket Number. CDC will post, without change, all relevant comments 
to www.regulations.gov.
    Please note: Submit all comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
portal (www.regulations.gov) or by U.S. mail to the address listed 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan 
and instruments, contact Jeffrey M. Zirger, Information Collection 
Review Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton 
Road NE, MS H21-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329; Telephone: 404-639-7570; 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. In addition, the PRA also requires 
federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each new 
proposed collection, each proposed extension of existing collection of 
information, and each reinstatement of previously approved information 
collection before submitting the collection to the OMB for approval. To 
comply with this requirement, we are publishing this notice of a 
proposed data collection as described below.
    The OMB is particularly interested in comments that will help:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;

[[Page 36505]]

    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses; and
    5. Assess information collection costs.

Proposed Project

    Pilot Plan for the Interim Local Health Department Strategy for 
Response, Control, and Prevention of Healthcare Associated Infections 
(HAI) and Antibiotic Resistance (AR)--New--National Center for Emerging 
and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of 
Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) recently developed an Interim Local 
Health Department Strategy for Response, Control, and Prevention of 
Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) and Antibiotic Resistance (AR). 
CDC's vision is to strengthen local and regional capacity to respond 
to, control, and prevent HAI/AR across all healthcare settings and in 
the community by supporting enhanced coordination between state and 
local partners and by promoting local public health, healthcare, and 
community partner networks. This vision can be achieved with 
collaboration between local, state, and federal public health entities, 
and partners. This strategy aims to strengthen local health departments 
(LHD) by focusing on three main goals: (1) growing strong partner 
networks; (2) building internal operational capacity; and (3) expanding 
the scope of programmatic activities to effectively address HAI/AR in 
their jurisdictions.
    CDC's next steps include piloting the strategy with local health 
departments in part through a cooperative agreement with the National 
Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and is 
proposing this data collection to gather information from LHDs during 
that pilot phase. The strategy was developed to highlight and support 
the important role LHDs play in preventing, responding to, and 
controlling HAI and AR related events. The HAI/AR activities that are 
conducted by LHDs vary widely and depend on many factors such as staff 
capacity and expertise, governance structures and public health 
authorities, prevalence of emerging HAI/AR diseases, types, and 
organization of healthcare facilities in the jurisdiction, population 
demographics, local relationships, and nature of collaborations with 
the state HAI/AR program. While the specific activities and 
responsibilities of LHDs will vary, the unique roles and assets of LHDs 
make them critical players in the prevention and control of HAI/AR 
infections. LHDs can build relationships in their local communities and 
may be well-positioned to understand and respond to the health needs of 
their communities. There is much to be learned and many best practices 
to be shared from LHD working in HAI/AR. Engaging with LHDs is 
essential for DHQP to connect to other priority areas such as focusing 
on rural areas, healthcare preparedness, and health equity 
considerations. Additionally, a local engagement strategy will help 
DHQP expand their activities to focus on connecting with LHDs that 
directly work between healthcare and public health groups, especially 
to continue work and partnerships begun by COVID-19 task forces.
    The data collection and subsequent data analysis will identify 
themes and commonalities that will be used to make updates to the 
strategy and identify areas of support for LHDs seeking to grow their 
capacity for HAI/AR activities. CDC requests OMB approval for an 
estimated 390 annual burden hours. There are no costs to respondents 
other than their time to participate.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per     Total burden
      Type of respondents           Form name       respondents    responses per   response  (in    hours  (in
                                                                    respondent        hours)          hours)
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Voluntary LHD Participants....  LHD HAI/AR                    30               1               4             120
                                 Strategy Pilot
                                 Feedback Form.
Voluntary LHD Participants....  LHD HAI/AR                    30               1               1              30
                                 Strategy Pilot
                                 Interview Guide
                                 Survey.
Voluntary LHD Participants....  LHD HAI/AR                    30               1               2              60
                                 Strategy Pilot
                                 Survey for
                                 Review and
                                 Implement.
NACCHO CoAg LHD Participants..  LHD HAI/AR                    30               1               2              60
                                 Strategy Pilot
                                 Survey.
NACCHO CoAg LHD Participants..  LHD HAI/AR                    30               1               4             120
                                 Strategy Pilot
                                 Feedback Form.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............             390
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-13095 Filed 6-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P