CDC: Healthcare-associated infections declining

Editor's Note

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 19 released its current progress report on healthcare-associated infections, which includes state and national level statistics for 2017.

Among the findings for acute care hospitals:

• Clostridium difficile infections declined by 13%.
• Central line-associated bloodstream infections fell by 9%.
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections decreased by 8%.
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections declined by 5%.
• Ventilator-associated events fell by 3%.
• Surgical site infections for 10 selected procedures decreased by 1%.