The CominaPIA will be tasked with advising Santé publique France on setting priorities and defining the terms of reference for national surveillance and prevention initiatives regarding healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), antibiotic resistance (ABR), and the appropriate use of antibiotics (AUA). Santé publique France will ensure that these priorities and recommendations are consistent with its program of activities and the objectives of the National Strategy for Infection Prevention and Antibiotic Resistance 2022–2025.

Santé publique France will rely on this committee to ensure the scientific quality and efficiency of activities carried out within the framework of these national missions, as well as their alignment with the national guidelines defined by the Ministry of Health (DGS, DGOS, DGCS).

The committee will evaluate the scientific quality of the applications submitted by CPias and CRAtbs wishing to respond to Santé publique France’s call for projects for each of these national missions, thereby enabling the agency to select and fund them through annual agreements within the framework of a 5-year mandate.

Finally, it will conduct an annual evaluation of the activities of the CPias and CRAtbs carrying out these national missions, based on an annual activity report pertaining to these missions.

This committee will consist of 11 expert members appointed by the Director General of Santé publique France, joined by institutional representatives (9) from the DGS, the DGOS, the SGMAS, the ARS, the HAS, the CNAM, and Santé publique France [2 representatives from the Directorate of Infectious Diseases (DMI) and 1 representative from the Directorate of Regional Units of Santé publique France (DIRe)].

The members will represent the various specialties and areas of expertise involved in the field of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and hospital-acquired tuberculosis (HAT), as well as the BUA (see below). They will include at least one physician, one pharmacist, and one healthcare executive.

Expert members shall serve in their personal capacity and may not be replaced. This is a participation in their personal capacity and not institutional representation.

The committee is expected to meet in person at least once a year for one day, with an estimated workload for members of 3 to 5 days per year.

A few additional meetings (held via videoconference) are to be expected:

• Establishment of the new CominaPIA

• Review of any recommendations made during the annual evaluations

• Preparation for the next term: terms of reference, call for proposals, evaluation of candidate applications.

To meet the established objectives, the Committee must be composed of healthcare professionals (physicians, pharmacists, healthcare administrators, nurses) with expertise in the areas of healthcare-associated infection surveillance and prevention, antibiotic resistance, and the appropriate use of antibiotics.

General Qualifications

• Interest and experience in the field of surveillance and prevention of healthcare-associated infections, including research, development, and evaluation;

• Interest and experience in the field of surveillance and prevention of resistance to anti-infective agents, particularly antibiotic resistance and the appropriate use of antibiotics, including research, development, and evaluation;

• Good knowledge of the public health system and the organization of healthcare in France;

• ability to work collaboratively and in a multidisciplinary setting.

Specific Skills

• Hospital hygiene;

• Public health: epidemiology, prevention, and communication;

• Infectious diseases;

• microbiology;

• clinical/hospital pharmacy.

Committee members are appointed for a term of five years.

Internal rules will define the committee’s operating procedures, including the appointment of its chair.

The chair of this committee is appointed from among its members by the Director General of Santé publique France. Members sign a “Confidentiality Agreement and Commitment to Regularly Attend Meetings.”

The Director General of Santé publique France provides the necessary resources for the committee’s operation. The scientific and administrative secretariat of this committee is provided by the Directorate of Infectious Diseases, Unit for Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance.

Travel and subsistence expenses are reimbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to civilian government employees.

Compensation for loss of income in the case of self-employed individuals, as well as compensation for time spent attending meetings and for work performed, will be provided in accordance with the schedule established by the Board of Directors of Santé publique France.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Selection of candidates for the “National Committee on Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention and Antibiotic Resistance” will be conducted by a selection committee based on the information provided in the cover letter, the candidates’ alignment with the required competencies, an analysis of their conflicts of interest, and the committee’s need for multidisciplinarity and diversity. Candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application by email from the committee secretariat.

Committee members will be appointed by decision of the Director General of Santé publique France, and the committee’s composition will be published on the agency’s website.

Staff members of the CPias and CRAtb are not eligible to apply. The same applies to members of the Board of Directors, the Scientific Council, the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee, and the Steering and Dialogue Committee of Santé publique France.

• Confidentiality Clause

• Fact Sheet on the Committee for “National Missions on Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance” (CominaPIA)