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SHEA Research Network

The SHEA Research Network (SRN) is a consortium of over 100 unique healthcare facilities collaborating on multicenter research projects in healthcare epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship. 

All healthcare facilities with a dedicated site PI are able to join the SRN and participate in projects. View previous SRN projects here.

Engaging the Network

Approval of proposed research projects is determined by the SRN Review Committee following submission of a proposal concept application 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 SHEA's mission and the capabilities of the SRN. For unfunded proposals, is given to the burden on participating sites. Review of a proposal will not commence until all materials are received.

Join the SRN

Submit a Proposal

Apply for a Letter of Support
SRN Studies SRN Members SRN Leadership Team

Fee Structure

  • Government or NGO-funded projects (excluding training or career development grants): $2,000
  • Corporate-funded projects: $5,000
  • No fees apply to unfunded research projects (i.e. conducted with no visible means of support). If approved, unfunded projects are supported by the SHEA Education and Research Foundation. 

Fees cover review and solicitation of members, but not administrative support, data management, or projects beyond normal scope (e.g. Delphi process with multiple rounds of surveying). Projects are invoiced after SHEA review and acceptance.

High-Priority Topics (1, 2)

COVID-19 (1)
  • Transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2, including asymptomatic spread
  • Risk factors for severe disease and COVID-19 sequelae
  • Interventions to stop COVID-19 outbreaks, including surveillance, outbreak investigation, isolation precautions, testing, environmental cleaning, source control, and use of PPE
  • Socio-behavioral, contextual, and cultural factors
  • Impact on antibiotic prescribing
HAIs
  • HAI prevention in non-acute care settings
  • Implementation of HAI prevention methods
  • Technology to manage hand hygiene compliance
Device-associated infections (including CLABSI, CAUTI, VAE)
  • Epidemiology of device-associated infections in non-ICU settings
  • Novel technology for device-associated infection prevention
  • Reliability and validity of surveillance definitions in different patient populations and their impact on outcomes and practices
SSIs
  • Postoperative wound care strategies
  • Impact of an operating room checklist 
  • Patient-specific risk factor modification
MDROs and C. difficile
  • Transmission dynamics
  • Novel interventions for acute and non-acute care settings
  • Role of the environment and the impact of environmental disinfection on transmission
  • Role of laboratory technology 
Employee health
  • Methods to improve uptake of vaccinations in healthcare personnel (HCP) in settings where mandatory vaccination is not feasible
  • Prevention of needlestick injuries and other bloodborne pathogen exposures in HCP
  • Methods for post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of HIV, HCV, and HBV
  • Role of HCP in transmitting organisms to patients
Respiratory viruses
  • Effects of barrier precautions on respiratory virus transmission
  • PPE for prevention of respiratory virus transmission
  • Novel diagnostics
Antimicrobial stewardship
  • Impact of antimicrobial stewardship programs on emergence of resistance, patient outcomes, and cost
  • Alternative methods for antimicrobial stewardship such as post-prescription review
  • Performance metrics for antimicrobial stewardship
Environment
  • Efficacy of touchless cleaning technologies 
  • Surveillance of environmental cleaning
  • Role of hospital epidemiologists and infection preventionists in changing policy related to environmental cleaning

(1) COVID-19 Research Agenda for Healthcare Epidemiology. Mody L, Akinboyo IC, Babcock HM, Bischoff WE, Cheng VC-C, Chiotos K, Claeys KC, Coffey KC, Diekema DJ, Donskey CJ, Ellingson KD, Gilmartin HM, Gohil SK, Harris AD, Keller SC, Klein EY, Krein SL, Kwon JH, Lauring AS, Livorsi DJ, Lofgren ET, Merrill K, Milstone A, Monsees EA, Morgan DJ, Perri LP, Pfeiffer CD, Rock C, Saint S, Sickbert-Bennett E, Skelton F, Suda KJ, Talbot TR, Vaughn VM, Weber DJ, Wiemken TL, Yassin MH, Ziegler MJ, Anderson DJ. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021 Jan. 1-81. 

(2) 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;35:480-93.