The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released its "National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections Progress Report," indicating an overall reduction in almost all HAIs in 2012.
From 2008 to 2012, the country experienced a 44 percent decrease in central line-associated blood infections, a 20 percent decrease in surgical site infections following colon surgery and an 11 percent drop in SSIs following abdominal hysterectomy. From 2011 to 2012, there was a 4 percent decrease in hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and a 2 percent decrease in hospital-onset Clostridium difficile.
However, the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections increased by 3 percent from 2009 to 2012.
The report also shows a state-by-state breakdown of HAI occurrences and how each state compares to the national standard infection ratio. Sixteen states are performing better than the national SIR on CLABSI control (0.56), 15 are performing better on CAUTI control (1.03), seven are performing better on SSI control after colon surgery (0.80) and six are performing better on SSI after hysterectomy (0.89).
The data were collected through the CDC's National Health Safety Network.
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