Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Lights from the Field

Texas Epidemiologists will highlight notable Texas Healthcare-associated Infections in 2025. Join to learn about a Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii investigation in an acute care hospital and a Mycobacterium abscessus investigation in an intensive care unit.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Healthcare: Opportunities to Improve Health Outcomes

This session provides an overview of various artificial intelligence (AI) applications and their role in improving healthcare delivery efficiency, optimizing workflows, and enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of clinical decision-making.

Building Healthy Teams

This session covers a blended management approach to build healthy teams. Participants will review tools for leaders to create a structure and environment to help programs and staff achieve their goals. This session will share strategies to build a work culture that focuses on intentionality, trust, constant improvement, and open communication. 

Evidence-Based Health Communication: Research and Practice to Support Public Health

This session highlights how data and theory can be applied to strengthen health communication strategies. Participants will gain an understanding of evidence-based communication approaches, explore tools for developing more effective messaging, and review a real-world case study demonstrating successful application.

The Evolving Battlefield: Rising Threats of Multidrug Resistance and the Antibiotic Stewardship Response

This session offers an overview of the growing threat of multidrug-resistant pathogens with the focus on key pathogens including Candida auris, Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), Clostridioides difficile, and Gonorrhea. Participants will also learn about current antibiotic and diagnostic stewardship strategies aimed at combating the rise of drug resistance.

Trauma-Informed Care and Practice

This presentation describes the impact of trauma on our bodies and brains. Holly Fullmer, a Trauma-Informed Policy and Training Specialist, will guide you through understanding trauma and its manifestations in behavior. Additionally, explore the concept of co-regulation and its significance in connecting with and supporting individuals. Gain practical strategies to enhance patient safety and create a supportive healthcare environment.

Predictors of Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program Penalties, FY2025

This session presents a retrospective analysis of 3,082 acute care hospitals using publicly reported Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services FY2025 Hospital-acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP) data. Kelly Holmes will examine how patient safety indicators and standardized infection ratios (SIRs) differentially contribute to hospital penalty risk. Results will be framed using the Donabedian model to demonstrate how measurement design and program structure influence financial outcomes. Attendees will gain practical insights to inform strategic decision‑making for infection prevention, quality improvement, and executive leadership.

Measles in the Post-Elimination Era: Implications from the West Texas Outbreak

This session explores the 2025 Texas measles outbreak, highlighting perspectives from local health departments, Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory, and Infection Prevention Specialists. Speakers will share experiences with outbreak preparedness and response, highlighting key strategies and lessons learned to strengthen efforts across public health and healthcare. 

Finding Mission and Joy in Public Health 

This keynote session explores the current state of burnout and job satisfaction in healthcare, providing insight into the challenges impacting today’s U.S. public health workforce. Participants will learn practical strategies to enhance both personal and team satisfaction, fostering a more positive and supportive work environment. This session also guides attendees in developing a personal work mission statement, helping participants articulate their personal “why” and connect daily work to shared public health values.

Beyond Accreditation: Implementing a Sustainable and Effective Workplace Violence Prevention Program

This session will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to lead a comprehensive workplace violence prevention (WVP). Attendees will explore the essential components of an effective WVP program, learn strategies to prevent and respond to incidents, and understand the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration across clinical, security, and administrative teams. The session will also highlight the value of timely reporting and data analysis to identify trends, guide prevention efforts, and support staff well-being.

Nothing to it but to Flu it: A Surprisingly Simple Approach to Increasing Flu Specimen Submissions

This session will describe how Public Health Region 8 worked with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory to develop a streamlined approach to flu specimen submission that resulted in successfully onboarding multiple healthcare facilities and an increase in flu specimen submission for the 2025-2026 influenza season. 

Legionella Environmental Investigations

This presentation provides an overview of the environmental investigation process for Legionella, including when an investigation is warranted on the core components of an environmental assessment and the interpretation of environmental sampling results. It covers key steps such as epidemiologic review, facility and building system evaluation, environmental assessment, sampling methods, and result interpretation to guide public health response and risk mitigation.

World Cup Collaboration: How Texas is Preparing Response Efforts Involving Higher Volume and Unusual Cases

Participants will present real-world experiences based on current and ongoing activities their agency is undertaking to prepare for the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup this summer. Participants will also discuss the list of designated Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Health Conditions that could impact human health due to the 2026 World Cup and how this list was objectively created. Panel participants represent a wide variety of viewpoints, including local, regional, and state perspectives, and will discuss both epidemiological and public health preparedness activities.

Mind the Culture: Bridging the Gap Between Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship

This session will explore relationships between diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship and their role in improving antibiotic use and patient outcomes. It will provide an overview of key principles and advances in diagnostic testing, including rapid molecular test tools through case-based examples. Participants will also learn how integrating diagnostics with stewardship programs can support timely, targeted therapy while reducing unnecessary antibiotic use. This session will conclude with practical strategies applicable across healthcare and public health settings.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Texas Wildlife

This session will provide an overview of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Texas wildlife including how the virus presents in different animal species. Speakers will explain how laboratory testing is conducted for both animals and humans, as well as how to recognize and reduce potential human exposure. The session will also cover symptom monitoring and testing processes for individuals who may have been exposed. 

Pathogens Perspective: From Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) to Cryptosporidium - HUS in Texas / Fun in the Sun or Down in the Runs: Cryptosporidium Outbreak Being Linked to a Lake

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) in Texas
The presentation provides the epidemiology and trend of HUS in Texas. It also provides guidance regarding HUS case reporting and a detailed walk-through. 

Fun in the Sun or Down in the Runs: Cryptosporidium Outbreak Linked to a Lake
Learn about a Cryptosporidium outbreak investigation that was conducted by a regional health department within a rural town that had the common exposure of a public lake. The audience will also learn about CDC involvement during the investigation as well as the contributions of other various agencies and their representatives for the outbreak. 

Category A Waste is a Critical Weakness in the United States Response Plans for Outbreaks of High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID)

This session will explore current challenges with category A regulations and how they impact response efforts for high consequence infectious diseases (HCID). Dr. Gibbs will highlight potential gaps and failure points in existing processes and share publicly available resources to help category A waste management for patients.

Transplant Associated Reportable Disease Investigations 

Interdisciplinary infectious disease experts from the Department of State Health Services (Epidemiologists, Nurse) will provide an overview of the process to investigate cases of reportable diseases related to blood product, tissue, and/or organ donation events. Example Tuberculosis and Zoonosis investigations will provide real-world scenarios of these complex investigations in practice and public health outcomes. 

Engaging Work Around Mpox Prevention and Response 

This presentation will share data on local and national inbox activity and highlight response efforts during the 2022-2023 outbreak and post outbreak. Attendees will learn about community engagement strategies and outreach efforts used to support prevention and response.

Pathogens Perspective: From Botulism to Vibrio - Infant Botulism Outbreak Linked to Powdered Infant Formula / The World is Your Oyster: Vibrio Investigation and Shellfish Tags

Infant Botulism Outbreak Linked to Powdered Infant Formula
Learn about a national and state-wide perspective of the multi-state infant botulism outbreak investigation. Understand the local health department's perspective of how the infant botulism investigation is conducted, being notified by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) of a suspected multi-state outbreak, and coordinating retrieving the sample to submit for additional testing.
 

The World is your Oyster: Vibrio Investigation and Shellfish Tags
Attendees will learn to assess case classifications, interpret lab reports, and compare shellfish tags. 

Overview on the Role of the DSHS Lab

Learn about the differences between a public health laboratory and a clinical laboratory. This session will share the testing services provided by DSHS Public Health Laboratory Division. Attendees will also see examples of how public health laboratories contribute to epidemiological investigations and support outbreak response efforts. 

Texas Influenza Surveillance: Coordination, Reporting, and Response Part 1

This training provides a comprehensive overview of influenza surveillance in Texas and the United States, with a focus on the roles of local health departments and public health regions. Participants will explore key surveillance systems used to monitor influenza activity, including influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance through ILINet, laboratory-based surveillance, and syndromic surveillance data. These sessions also highlight outbreak response, reporting practices, and identification of novel influenza strains. Through case-based scenarios participants will strengthen their ability to interpret surveillance data and support coordinated public health response efforts.

Timeliness of Candida auris Reporting in Harris County, Texas, 2021–2024

This session will describe how Candida auris cases are reported to health departments in Harris County and explain why timely reporting is critical for controlling the spread in healthcare facilities. Attendees will also learn how reporting delays are interpreted and how to guide public health response.

Data Collection Improvement for Epidemiology

This session will explore the importance of improved data collection in the context of public health data monetization. Attendees will learn how applied epidemiology and data monitorization efforts intersect in practice and discover strategies to optimize electronic data availability to enhance analysis, outbreak detection, and quality control processes.

Texas Influenza Surveillance: Coordination, Reporting, and Response Part 2

This training provides a comprehensive overview of influenza surveillance in Texas and the United States, with a focus on the roles of local health departments and public health regions. Participants will explore key surveillance systems used to monitor influenza activity, including influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance through ILINet, laboratory-based surveillance, and syndromic surveillance data. These sessions also highlight outbreak response, reporting practices, and identification of novel influenza strains. Through case-based scenarios, participants will strengthen the ability to interpret surveillance data and support coordinated public health response efforts.

World Cup Epidemiology: How Epidemiologists are Preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup 

Participants will present experiences preparing for the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup from an epidemiological perspective. Representatives from both Dallas and Houston, where World Cup matches are being played in Texas, will describe how they work with partners from their area to prepare and respond to infectious diseases and other notable health conditions during the event. Discussion will also include how syndromic, wastewater, and environmental surveillance can be utilized to supplement other surveillance tools.

Rabies in Texas

This session will provide first-hand accounts of rabies investigations alongside state surveillance data on rabies in animals. Attendees will learn about strategies and control methods used in Texas to prevent the spread of rabies and protect public health.

Texas Influenza Surveillance: Coordination, Reporting, and Response Part 3

This training provides a comprehensive overview of influenza surveillance in Texas and the United States, with a focus on the roles of local health departments and public health regions. Participants will explore key surveillance systems used to monitor influenza activity, including influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance through ILINet, laboratory-based surveillance, and syndromic surveillance data. These sessions also highlight outbreak response, reporting practices, and identification of novel influenza strains. Through case-based scenarios participants will strengthen their ability to interpret surveillance data and support coordinated public health response efforts.

Introducing the New Texas National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS)

The Public Health Informatics & Data Exchange (PHID) team will introduce the new Texas National Electronic Disease Surveillance System, or NEDSS. This will be a more modern platform designed to strengthen how we track and respond to reportable infectious diseases statewide. This system will enhance data quality, improve timeliness, and support better collaboration across jurisdictions.

Antimicrobial Resistance Lab Network (ARLN)

This session discusses the methods and procedures used to identify and characterize target pathogens. Brady Ryan will provide real world examples of outbreaks and novel/rare organisms identified through the program. Both nationally published and internally generated Texas data will be used. 

Perinatal Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Vaccines and Investigations

This presentation explains collaborating with health systems and providers to identify pregnant women that are Hepatitis B Surface Antigen positive, as well as providing case management to their infants. 

Pertussis: “Whoop” Here It Is 

This presentation provides an overview of Bordetella pertussis, detailing the transmission, clinical symptoms, and case definitions that prompt public health follow-up in the State of Texas. Participants in this presentation should be able to understand and describe the criteria used to determine case status, identify close contacts and proper infection control measures, and recommend the appropriate postexposure prophylaxis. Discussion may include notes from the field, common pitfalls, and a Questions and Answer segment.

Closing Remarks

Directors of the Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease Unit (EAIDU) and Healthcare Safety Unit (HSU) close out the 2026 Epidemiology & Laboratory Capacity (ELC) 2026: Infectious, Respiratory, and Healthcare-associated Infections Conference.