Editor's note: To access part two of this two-part article, CLICK HERE.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Joint Commission is revising the 2009 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) and the 2009 Universal Protocol to clarify language and make sure that they are relevant to the settings in which they apply. This initiative to review and revise the 2009 NPSGs and the 2009 Universal Protocol is a first step in the Joint Commission’s efforts to focus on those issues that are of highest priority to safety and quality. Proposed revisions for 2010 can be found, by program, by CLICKING HERE. In these documents, the current (2009) requirement is listed in regular type and the proposed revision follows it in bold type. Elements of Performance and/or Implementation Expectations that are proposed for deletion or movement to standards are also identified. Feedback on the National Patient Safety Goals and Universal Protocol, if applicable, will be gathered for six weeks beginning on May 12, 2009.
The Joint Commission (JC)’s focus on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in its 2009 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) underscores a growing concern within the healthcare community. Infection preventionists are on the front line in the battle against HAIs. As such, they are charged with understanding and interpreting the goals pertaining to HAIs and leading efforts to achieve those requirements within the mandated timeframe.
This article, the first of a two-part series, reviews the impact of HAIs and the latest NPSGs for hospitals and ambulatory care settings. Emphasis will be given to Goal No. 7: “Reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized HAIs as a worldwide concern due to their negative impact on patients, healthcare workers and facilities in both developed and resource-poor countries. These infections are a major issue for patient safety as they complicate the delivery of patient care.
HAIs contribute to patient deaths and disability, promote resistance to antibiotics and generate additional costs above those already incurred by the patient’s underlying disease.1-2
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 2 million patients develop HAIs each year.3 Nearly 100,000 die as a result.4 Among those at highest risk are those who require intensive care.5 Other contributing factors include: An aging population, more people in more crowded conditions, more immuno-compromised patients, more aggressive medical interventions, misuse and/or overuse of antibiotics, and failure of healthcare workers to follow basic infection-control practices.1,6