What is CDC doing to prevent healthcare-associated infections?
Healthcare-associated infections are a threat to patient safety. CDC provides national leadership in surveillance, outbreak investigations, laboratory research, and prevention of healthcare-associated infections. CDC uses knowledge gained through these activities to detect infections and develop new strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
Public health action by CDC and other healthcare partners has led to improvements in clinical practice, medical procedures, and the ongoing development of evidence-based infection control, guidance. Some examples of successful collaborations include:
- Surgical Care Improvement Project
- Prevention Epicenters Program
- Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative’s for bloodstream infection elimination
- Veterans Administration’s MRSA Prevention Initiative
CDC guidelines for prevention of healthcare-associated infections are the standard of care in U.S. hospitals and guide the clinical practices of healthcare providers in the United States.
Content source:
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases
Infection Control Topics
- Infection Control Home
- Healthcare-Associated Infections
- Protecting Patients
- Protecting Healthcare Workers
- Infection Control Guidelines
- Infection Control A-Z
- About DHQP