Earlier this month, CDC released the 2018 National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Progress Report based on National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data. NHSN is the nation’s most widely used HAI surveillance system by facilities, states, regions, quality groups, and national public health agencies including CDC. This annual report provides an update on previous reports, detailing state and national progress towards reducing, and ultimately eliminating, HAIs.

As you review this report, you can see some great highlights for Arizona across multiple facility types. The report shows that compared to the national baseline, Arizona reported:

  • a significant decrease in four of seven infection types among acute care hospitals.

  • a significant decrease in three of five infection types among long term acute care hospitals.

  • a significant decrease in one of four infection types among inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

  • no significant increase in any infection type was reported.

To help improve healthcare quality and safeguard against healthcare-associated events, the HAI Program at ADHS works closely with a multidisciplinary HAI Advisory Committee and subcommittees to identify and address HAI priority areas for Arizona. Arizona also has strong partnerships with organizations and healthcare facilities across the state to prevent HAIs, which supports HAI Prevention work through the Advisory Committee and through Arizona’s State Health Improvement Plan. Please visit preventhaiaz.gov to learn more about current HAI prevention activities at ADHS.