NH Releases Updated Hospital Infection Data

Data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) at New Hampshire's 34 hospitals and 27 ambulatory surgery centers shows a slight increase in reported infections over last year, but less than predicted. The reports are mandated by law to track data on the occurrence of specific HAIs. While NH hospital data is better than the national average, more progress is needed to reduce hospital-acquired infections, which account for 25% of all preventable hospital error deaths nationwide. (See earlier post on Hospital Errors.)

Hospitals

A total of 219 HAIs was reported by hospitals in 2014, compared with 183 in 2013. Compared to national data, New Hampshire hospitals had fewer observed infections.

Hospital infections tracked are:

• Central line-associated bloodstream infections
• Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
• Surgical site infections following certain 
• heart
• colon
• abdominal hysterectomy and
• knee surgeries

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Overall, statewide infection rates in NH's ambulatory surgery centers are similar in comparison to national data. A total of four surgical site infections were reported for 2014, compared with six in 2013 and four in 2012.

Infections tracked for surgical centers are:

• Surgical site infections following certain 
• breast
• hernia
• open reduction of fracture surgeries

The reports also provide data on hospital and surgery center compliance with measures that help protect patients from healthcare-associated infections. These data include adherence to infection prevention practices during central line insertions in hospitals, the appropriate use of antimicrobials during surgical procedures in ASC, and influenza vaccination coverage among hospital and ASC healthcare personnel.

For more information on the 2014 Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Hospital Report and the 2014 Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Report released by The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), a Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), visit this web page: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/hai/publications.htm

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