CDC reports progress in fighting HAIs, superbugs

Editor's Note

Though US hospitals are making gains in the fight against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, too many patients continue to get these infections, according to a Vital Signs report released March 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Among the findings in the report:

• Central-line associated infections fell 50% in 2014 compared with 2008, but 1 in 6 infections was caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
• Surgical site infections decreased 17% from 2008 to 2014, with 1 in 7 cases attributed to antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
• Clostridium difficile was responsible for half a million infections in 2011, but cases declined 8% from 2011 to 2014.
• The number of catheter-associated urinary tract infections did not change between 2009 and 2013, but some progress was made between 2013 and 2014 with a 5% decrease. One in 10 of these infections was caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

View suggested citation Background: Health care-associated antibiotic-resistant (AR) infections increase patient morbidity and mortality and might be impossible to successfully treat with any antibiotic. CDC assessed health care-associated infections (HAI), including Clostridium difficile infections (CDI), and the role of six AR bacteria of highest concern nationwide in several types of health care facilities.