The Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) strategy is a method developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to use data for action to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The TAP strategy is a way to identify facilities or units within a facility with the highest excess numbers of infections, so that prevention efforts may be directed towards facilities or units in greatest need of improvement.

is now available in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) application. The TAP report function allows NHSN users to identify facilities or units with excess numbers of infections compared to a predicted number based on the HHS Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR) targets for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). This information can help staff know where assistance with prevention of HAIs is needed most.

Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) Strategy

NHSN Training Slides: Running TAP Reports in NHSN 

NHSN Technical Documents: TAP Reports for the Facility User 

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HAIs

 health care-acquired infections (HAIs) page presents updates on the latest techniques and strategies in the never-ending battle between infection preventionists and HAIs. Focusing on the latest in medical literature, we also present perspectives from the top infection preventionists and other medical experts in the country about how to put the growing knowledge of HAIs into use in the everyday world of infection prevention. Articles and videos often focus on methods to contain and control pathogens and multidrug-resistant organisms from spreading within the health care system.

CDC Offers Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) Resources