CDC: Hospital Central Line Infections Drop Significantly

A new CDC report finds that the number of reported central line infections in hospital intensive care units dropped from 43,000 in 2001 to 18,000 in 2009. The CDC report and Consumers Union attribute the 58% drop to targeted infection control efforts in hospitals. Meanwhile, CDC estimates dialysis facilities had about 37,000 central line infections in 2008. Roberta Mikles -- a retired nurse and member of the California Department of Public Health advisory committee on health care-associated infections -- said such infection control efforts have not been implemented at dialysis centers.

• "Despite Overall Drop, Infection Rate Remains High for Dialysis Patients" (Jewett, California Watch, 3/2).