CDC Data Show Drop in Some Health Care-Associated Infections
By Doug Brunk
Elsevier Global Medical News
Central line-associated bloodstream infections are among four common health care-associated infections that have declined in the United States, according to an analysis of 2010 data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Along with central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), health care-associated invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and surgical site infections are on track to meet reduction targets set by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections. One trouble spot in the plan appears to be Clostridium difficile hospitalizations, which have increased. Data are not yet available on the progress of reducing C. difficile infections and MRSA bacteremia, the CDC said.
“These successes reflect investments not only in hospital practices, but [also] in our national and state public health capacity,” Dr. Denise Cardo, director of CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, said in a prepared statement. “Preventing infections in health care saves lives and reduces health care costs.”
The nine-target initiative, which has an end goal of Dec. 31, 2013, includes collection of data submitted by hospitals to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network.
“Progress is steadily taking place,” according to the HHS. But the agency acknowledged that “efforts must be enhanced and accelerated” to achieve the reduction target for C. difficile hospitalizations, whose projected 2010 assessment is a 6.8 percent increase from baseline. The 2009 data showed a 1.1 percent increase from baseline (of 8.8 hospitalizations/1,000 discharges in 2008).
The CDC reported that in 2010, there was a 33 percent reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections: a 35 percent reduction among critical care patients and a 26 percent reduction among non-critical care patients.
Other highlights included a 7 percent reduction in catheter-associated urinary tract infections, a 10 percent reduction in surgical site infections, and an 18 percent reduction in the number of people developing invasive MRSA infections.
In addition, adherence to central-line insertion practices reached 94.5 percent.
Details of the metrics and national 5-year prevention targets from the Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections include the following:
- A 50 percent reduction in bloodstream infections.
- 100 percent adherence to central-line insertion practices, 30 percent reduction in C. difficile hospitalizations.
- 0 percent reduction in C. difficile infections.
- 25 percent reduction in urinary tract infections.
- 50 percent reduction in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) invasive infections.
- 25 percent reduction in MRSA bacteremia.
- 25 percent reduction in surgical site infections.
- 95 percent adherence to Surgical Care Improvement Project Measures.
HHS intends to annually review progress toward the goals of the initiative, which started in 2008. Most metrics have a 2008 baseline, and the CDC started reporting annual data in 2009, according to the CDC.
Online November 3, 2011