In 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released the HHS Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections.[1] Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for medical or surgical conditions. HAIs are associated with a variety of causes, including (but not limited to) the use of medical devices, such as catheters and ventilators, complications following a surgical procedure, transmission between patients and healthcare workers, or the result of antibiotic overuse. They are among the leading causes of death in the United States, accounting for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths in 2002. In hospitals, they are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.[2] Four categories of infections account for approximately three quarters of HAIs in the acute care hospital setting including 1) surgical site infections; 2) central line-associated bloodstream infections; 3) ventilator-associated pneumonia, and; 4) Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI). In addition, infections associated with Clostridium difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus also contribute significantly to the overall problem. The frequency of HAIs varies by location. Currently, urinary tract infections comprise the highest percentage (34%) of HAIs followed by surgical site infections (17%), bloodstream infections (14%), and pneumonia (13%).[2] It is estimated that HAIs incur an estimated $28 to $33 billion in excess healthcare costs each year.[3]
Below you will find links to general resources. On the left are links to more detailed resources.