Kansas Hospitals Fight Against Healthcare-Associated Infections

Kansas Hospitals Fight Against Healthcare-Associated Infections

Kansas Hospitals Fight Against Healthcare-Associated Infections

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent this bulletin at 09/30/2013 03:40 PM EDT

Kansas Hospitals Fight Against Healthcare-Associated Infections

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recently released the first statewide report on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in Kansas hospitals. 

The report suggests that in 2011, Kansas facilities had significantly fewer HAIs than expected.  Specifically, data suggest that Kansas facilities had 67 percent fewer bloodstream infections from central-line devices and 26 percent fewer urinary tract infections from urinary catheter devices as compared to national reference data.  Currently, over 70 facilities in Kansas (representing more than 95 percent of staffed ICU beds) report data on one or more HAIs to KDHE’s HAIs Program.

The report, which is available online at www.kdheks.gov/epi/hai.htm, shows reductions in two important HAIs in intensive care unit settings: central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI).  A companion document, specifically designed for patients, was also made available at www.kdheks.gov/epi/hai.htm .  This resource is intended to empower and engage patients and identifies practical steps patients can take to reduce their risk of acquiring CLABSI and CAUTI when hospitalized.