Critical Care Medicine

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 shown an increase. Data are not yet available on the progress of reducing C. difficile infections and MRSA bacteremia, the CDC said.

Dr. Denise Cardo

"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: "Efforts must be enhanced and accelerated" to achieve the reduction target for C. diff. hospitalizations, whose projected 2010 assessment is a 6.8% increase from baseline. The 2009 data showed a 1.1% increase from baseline (of 8.8 hospitalizations/1,000 discharges in 2008).

The CDC reported that in 2010, there was a 33% reduction in central line–associated bloodstream infections: a 35% reduction among critical care patients and a 26% reduction among non–critical care patients.

Other highlights included a 7% reduction in catheter-associated urinary tract infections, a 10% reduction in surgical site infections, and an 18% reduction in the number of people developing invasive MRSA infections.

In addition, adherence to central-line insertion practices reached 94.5%.

Details of the metrics and national 5-year prevention targets from the Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections include the following:

• A 50% reduction in bloodstream infections.
• 100% adherence to central-line insertion practices, 30% reduction in Clostridium difficile hospitalizations.
• 30% reduction in Clostridium difficile infections,
• 25% reduction in urinary tract infections.
• 50% reduction in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) invasive infections
• 25% reduction in MRSA bacteremia.
• 25% reduction in surgical site infections
• 95% 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.

10/20/11  





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Major Finding: The United States recently has seen 33% fewer health care–acquired CLABSIs, 7% fewer catheter-associated UTIs, 10% fewer surgical site infections, and 18% fewer people developing health care–associated MRSA infections.

Data Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s health care infection-monitoring system, which compared data for 2010 with that from the start of an HHS initiative in 2008.

Disclosures: The study was conducted by the CDC.