New Colorado HAI report: Improvements In 2012

New Colorado HAI report: Improvements In 2012

New Colorado HAI report: Improvements In 2012

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent this bulletin at 01/31/2013 02:34 PM EST

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s annual Health Facility-Acquired Infections report shows more health facilities in the state met or exceeded (better than) the national standard for infection rates in 2012. There were 528 facilities that met or exceeded the standard in 2012, compared to 509 in 2011.

As part of a comprehensive reform to address HAI, 30 states, including Colorado and the District of Columbia, have mandated public HAI reporting using CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) to create greater transparency between health care facilities and the public while supporting greater accountability. Colorado’s legislatively mandated report contains data for surgical site infections in cardiac, orthopedic and abdominal operative procedures; central line-associated bloodstream infections in adult and neonatal critical care units and long-term acute care hospitals; and dialysis related infections in outpatient dialysis treatment centers. Data provided in the report are self-reported by each facility.

To assess the validity of reported data, the department’s Patient Safety Program has conducted three validation studies to date on central line associated bloodstream infections, hernia surgical site infections and dialysis infections. All three validation studies provided the opportunity to identify areas of misunderstanding about infection surveillance and reporting and provide focused education to health facility staff about surveillance definitions, rules and practices. A fourth validation study for hip/knee procedures is currently underway.

For more information about this report or patient safety initiatives under way at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, contact Tamara Hoxworth of the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division at 303-692-2930 or visit www.healthfacilities.info, click the HAI tab, Patient Safety Program link, and HAI Surveillance Data and Reports.