* Improving viral hepatitis surveillance, case investigation and outbreak response, such as support for health departments to thoroughly investigate all individuals identified to have HBV or HCV infection;
* Strengthening the capacity of state and local viral hepatitis prevention programs;
* Augmenting the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network, the national surveillance system for tracking health care-associated infections, to collect outpatient setting information;
* Partnering with the Hepatitis Outbreaks' National Organization for Reform (HONOReform), a patient advocacy foundation, to create patient and provider education materials;

* Continued improvement of injection safety practices through educational outreach efforts with professional nursing and anesthesiology organizations;
* Working with partners in the dialysis, diabetes and long-term care communities to promote safe care practices;
* Working with regulators and professional societies to strengthen licensure and accreditation processes with emphasis on safe injection practices;
* Exploring ways to improve curricula in nursing and medical schools related to safe health care practices.

For more information on preventing viral hepatitis in health care settings, visit http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Populations/HealthcareSettings.htm

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

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