The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a plan that establishes a set of five-year national prevention targets to reduce and possibly eliminate healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Healthcare-associated infections are infections that patients acquire while undergoing medical treatment or surgical procedures and are largely preventable.
The Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections lists a number of areas in which HAIs can be prevented, such as surgical site infections. The plan also outlines cross-agency efforts to save lives and reduce healthcare costs through expanded HAI prevention efforts.
“This plan will serve as our roadmap on how the department addresses this important public health and patient safety issue,” HHS secretary Mike Leavitt said. “This collaborative interagency plan will help the nation build a safer, more affordable healthcare system.”
The plan establishes national goals and outlines key actions for enhancing and coordinating HHS-supported efforts. These include development of national benchmarks, prioritized recommended clinical practices, a coordinated research agenda, an integrated information systems strategy and a national messaging plan. The plan also identifies opportunities for collaboration with national, state, tribal and local organizations.
HHS intends to update the plan in response to public input and new recommendations for infection prevention. The plan, and instructions for submitting comments on the plan, can be found online at http://www.hhs.gov/ophs.
In addition to the tremendous toll on human life, the financial burden attributed to these infections is staggering. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 1.7 million HAIs occurred in U.S. hospitals in 2002 and were associated with 99,000 deaths. CDC also estimates that HAIs add as much as $20 billion to healthcare costs each year.
HHS plans to hold meetings in the spring of 2009 to provide opportunities for public comment on improving and strengthening the plan and sharing opportunities for organizations to become engaged with implementing components of the plan that are consistent with their organizations’ missions. The dates for these meetings will be posted on the HHS Office of Public Health and Science Web site at http://www.hhs.gov/ophs.
Source: HHS
Endoscopes and Lumened Instruments: New Studies Highlight Persistent Contamination Risks
May 7th 2025Two new studies reveal troubling contamination in both new endoscopes and cleaned lumened surgical instruments, challenging the reliability of current reprocessing practices and manufacturer guidelines.
Happy Hand Hygiene Day! Rethinking Glove Use for Safer, Cleaner, and More Ethical Health Care
May 5th 2025Despite their protective role, gloves are often misused in health care settings—undermining hand hygiene, risking patient safety, and worsening environmental impact. Alexandra Peters, PhD, points out that this misuse deserves urgent attention, especially today, World Hand Hygiene Day.