CDC Offers Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) Resources

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.

The TAP report function 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.