GAO: Leadership needed to combat healthcare-acquired infections
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
April 23, 2008
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report concerning the need for leadership in the realm of infection control practices to have an impact on the growing number of healthcare-acquired infections (HAI). Presently the CDC recommends more than 1,200 practices for adequate infection control but the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) does not offer any guidance on which of these are most important. In addition, the recommended practices on the part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission are far fewer and targeted to hospital's daily practices. Lastly, HHS has multiple databases that contain information on HAIs, and they are not being used effectively.
The GAO has suggested that CDC prioritize its recommended practices and that HHS make better use of its databases.
To read the report, click here.
