In 2024, the rate of six healthcare-associated infections commonly reported in acute care hospitals declined from the year prior, according to a CDC report published Jan. 29.
The annual report summarizes HAI rates across acute care hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.
The HAIs are: central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated events, surgical site infections, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream events and Clostridioides difficile events.
In acute care hospitals, there was an average 8% national increase in abdominal hysterectomy SSIs between 2023 and 2024. The rate of six other HAIs declined: CLABSI (-9%), CAUTI (-10%), VAE (-2%), colon surgery SSI (-4%), hospital onset MRSA bloodstream event (-7%) and hospital onset C. diff infection (-11%).
With 1 in 31 acute care patients contracting an HAI, the recent declines represent safety improvements in the U.S. healthcare industry, the report said.
When compared to the 2015 baseline standardized infection ratio of one, all states performed better on at least two infection types.
Access the report here.
