CDC report provides insight on healthcare-associated infections

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April 25, 2012

Healthcare facilities nationwide reported a total of 13,812 healthcare-associated infections in 2010, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency’s infection tracking system gathered data from 7,8000 healthcare facilities and found that of the reported healthcare-associated infections--which include central line associate bloodstream infections (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and surgical site infections--more than half were observed in facilities’ intensive care units.

However, 21 states reported significant decreases in CLABSIs between 2009 and 2010, and data shows an overall national decrease in surgical site infections in 2010. Of the 4,737 surgical site infections reported, almost half of the infections occurred during hip arthroplasty and knee arthroplasty. The CDC uses infection tracking as a tool for preventing healthcare-associated infections.

Source: Becker’s Hospital Review