Healthcare-associated infections decrease, study finds

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found healthcare-associated infections in U.S. hospitals fell from 2015 to 2023. The New England Journal of Medicine published the findings, based on U.S. hospital surveys in 10 states. About 1 in 38 patients had at least one healthcare-associated infection in 2023, compared with 1 in 31 patients in 2015. Patients in 2023 were 27% less likely to have a healthcare-associated infection compared with those in 2015. Pneumonia, surgical-site infection and gastrointestinal infection were the most common healthcare-associated infections. The researchers found 61% of all healthcare-associated infections were not associated with devices such as central lines and urinary catheters or procedures. They found significant reductions in central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and Clostridioides difficile infections. (CDC news release, 7/16/26)