Improvement Projects > Improving Individual Patient Care > Healthcare Acquired Conditions > Healthcare-Associated Infections

In the Hospital Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) project, hospitals are collaborating with Ohio KePRO to spread knowledge, not infection, by improving processes and practices to eliminate the unnecessary transmission of HAI to patients. Project participants have made the commitment to improve patient care and outcomes by addressing multiple risk factors, that can include:

• The overuse of indwelling medical devices such as bloodstream and urinary catheters
• Surgical site infections
• Contamination of the healthcare environment
• Transmission of communicable diseases between patients and healthcare workers
• Overuse or improper use of antibiotics

These efforts are aligned with the National Quality Strategy and the U.S. Health and Human Services Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections. Project topics include:

• Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) An estimated 248,000 bloodstream infections occur in U.S. hospitals each year,1 and a large proportion of these are associated with the presence of a central vascular catheter. In the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting system, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses the term central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) to describe such infections. Bloodstream infections are usually serious, typically resulting in prolonged hospital stays, increased cost, and increased risk of mortality.

• Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) The urinary tract is the most common site of healthcare-associated infection, accounting for more than 30% of infections reported by acute care hospitals.1 Virtually all healthcare-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by instrumentation of the urinary tract. Complications associated with CAUTI cause discomfort to the patient, prolonged hospital stay, and increased cost and mortality. Each year, more than 13,000 deaths are associated with UTIs.¹

• Clostridium difficile Infections (CDIs) Clostridium difficile is responsible for a spectrum of C. difficile infections (CDIs, originally referred to as C. difficile-associated disease, or CDAD), including uncomplicated diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis, and toxic megacolon which can, in some instances, lead to sepsis and even death.

• Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) SSIs are the second most common healthcare-associated infection, accounting for 17% of all HAIs among hospitalized patients.1 While advances have been made in infection control practices, including improved operating room ventilation, sterilization methods, barriers, surgical technique, and availability of antimicrobial prophylaxis, SSIs remain a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients.

Source: ¹ Klevens RM, Edward JR, Richards CL, et al. Estimating health care-associated infections and deaths in U.S. hospitals, 2002. Public Health Reports. 2007;122:160-166.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

American Hospital Association (AHA)

Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention and Epidemilogy (APIC)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

HHS Resources for Consumers and Provers on Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections

Hospital-Acquired Conditions Fact Sheet

Infectionus Disease Society of America (IDSA)

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)

National Library of Medicine (NLM)

National Quality Forum's Safe Practices for Better Healthcare

The Joint Commission (TJC)

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)

U.S. Department of Health & Human Resources (HHS) Action Plan to Prevent HAIs

Additional HAI Resources