Containment Epidemiologist - HP III - HAI​/AR Program

Containment Epidemiologist – HP III – HAI/AR Program

Salary: $64,728.00 – $71,200.80 annually.

Location:

Denver, CO. Position open only to Colorado state residents.

Job type:
Full Time. Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response.

The Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response is the department’s lead surveillance, planning, and response arm for communicable disease outbreaks and related events. This position is an epidemiologist who investigates and responds to cases and outbreaks of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) identified in healthcare settings. The role uses the Containment Protocol to guide efforts and provides recommendations to healthcare facilities.

• Investigate single cases of antimicrobial‑resistant bacteria in healthcare facilities.
• Identify a case from surveillance or facility reports and conduct screening of patients for antimicrobial‑resistant bacteria.
• Coordinate the collection and processing of specimens sent to the Colorado Public Health Laboratory and the CDC Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Network for surveillance of MDROs.
• Initiate initial response measures and conduct healthcare investigations.
• Ensure infection control recommendations and assessments with the infection prevention team to contain the MDRO.
• Summarize data from containment efforts to inform our public health approach.
• Identify clusters and outbreaks of antimicrobial‑resistant bacteria through surveillance and containment screening events.
• Interview healthcare facility staff and/or patients, review medical records, and provide data summaries through line lists, epidemic curves, annotated maps, and descriptive statistics.
• Lead investigations with support from the outbreak lead and senior staff.
• Coordinate communication with affected facilities and referral for infection prevention and response assessments.
• Coordinate additional screening in response to outbreaks to meet outbreak closure definitions.
• Assist with screening events or provide epidemiological findings to facilities participating in on‑site infection control assessments.
• Choose appropriate epidemiologic methods to analyze, summarize, and present outbreak data and report to CDPHE team members, healthcare facility epidemiology or infection prevention staff, and CDC support members.
• Participate in the routine epi‑call schedule by answering e‑mail questions and telephone calls from healthcare providers, patients, and the public on a variety of communicable disease issues.
• Bring complex calls to the attention of subject matter experts and senior staff for review and consultation.

• Experience working in a laboratory as a microbiologist with knowledge of testing practices and interpretation of results.
• Experience with antibiotic resistance, antibiotic stewardship, and HAI/AR programs.
• Proficiency managing large datasets from the National Healthcare Safety Network and public health surveillance data.
• Experience with best practices of data display and reporting to stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating on projects with external partners.

Willingness to undergo a pre‑employment background check, travel as required for chart reviews and in response to cases or outbreaks, and availability for emergency or Continuity of Operations Plan activations.

The State of Colorado is an equal‑opportunity employer and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or military status (with preference given to veterans).