What Is An HAI?

The short answer to this question is “cross-contamination.” However, that can happen in a variety of ways. The most common occurrences happen through central line-associated blood-stream infections (CLABSI), ventilator-associated infections (which can occur via surgical site infection (SSI)), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and Clostridium difficile infections (CDI). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was added as a sub-category under SSIs and CLABSIs.

In 2009 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed the National Action Plan to help prevent Hospital-Acquired Infections. They set “reachable” HAI prevention goals. The plan was divided into three phases, each one focusing on a different type of healthcare facility. Goals included prioritizing the research agenda, integrating policy options for linking payment incentives/disincentives to quality of care, raising awareness of HAIs and enhancing regulatory oversight of hospitals. The CDC publishes an HAI progress report on a regular basis to update the public on the results of these goals. The CDC estimates that up to 70% of HAIs are preventable.

Antibiotic resistance is not going to go away anytime soon. So the best way to prevent the spread of HAIs is to avoid cross-contamination and kill harmful microorganisms at the source. Consistent and effective sanitization of primary fomites is key. One of the major issues in a lot of hospitals is compliance. Hospital employees are busy and stretched in many different directions and tasks like cleaning a keyboard can be put on the back burner.