CDC reports 50% drop in CLABSIs since 2008

Hospitals reduced central line-associated bloodstream infections by 50% between 2008 and 2016, according to a new progress summary by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report also shows progress by hospitals in reducing other healthcare-associated infections, including catheter-associated urinary tract, surgical site, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile infections. The AHA’s Health Research & Educational Trust affiliate has been working with the CDC to reduce CLABSI, CAUTI, C difficile and MRSA infections in targeted acute care hospitals. HRET also has worked with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Comprehensive Unit Based Safety Program to prevent CLABSI and CAUTI infections, and with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Hospital Improvement Innovation Networks to continue to reduce hospital-acquired conditions in the Medicare program.