Hospital-Acquired Infections Decreased in Calif. Hospitals, Data Show
The number of hospital-acquired infections reported at California health care facilities dropped slightly from 2011 to 2012, according to data released by the California Department of Public Health, Payers & Providers reports.
Findings
The data show that:
- MRSA infections decreased by 6% from 2011 to 2012, with 817 cases reported;
- 45% of California hospitals in 2012 reported no MRSA cases, up from 41.4% in 2011;
- Central line infections decreased by 5% from 2011 to 2012, with 2,998 cases reported; and
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infections fell to 825 cases in 2012, down from 831 in 2011.
However, VRE infections were reported by 54% of state hospitals in 2012, an increase from 48% in 2011.
CDPH also found that infection rates decreased by:
- 6% in general care wards;
- 13% in special care areas; and
- 22% in neonatal intensive care wards.
Reasons for Fewer Infections
The report suggests that several factors could have contributed to the drop in certain line infections, including:
- Efforts to prevent such infections, such as hand washing; and
- Prompting by CMS to reduce such infections.
Reaction
Jan Emerson-Shea -- vice president of external communications at the California Hospital Association -- said the findings are "good news" but added that "there's still a lot of work that remains to be done" (Shinkman, Payers & Providers, 12/5).
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