Surveillance (Data Collection & Statistical Analysis)
CDC collects data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) as part of its responsibility for research and investigation as authorized under Title III, Section 301, Section 304, and Section 306 of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC 241, 242b, 242k, and 242m(d)). The data are collected for the purposes of quality improvement and program management only. Hospitals are free to voluntarily release their own data to anyone they choose (e.g., to states or accrediting entities for accountability or for consumer choice purposes).
Surveillance Systems
- NHSN - National Healthcare Safety Network
General information and documents relating to the NHSN - NNIS - National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System
Publications and information about NNIS and reports from the NNIS System - DSN - Dialysis Surveillance Network
Publications and general Information about the DSN - S.E.A.R.C.H. -
Surveillance of Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance Connected to Healthcare
What SEARCH is and how to participate - BaCon Study - Bacterial Contamination of Blood
Results and forms from the BaCon Study
Disease and Condition-specific Statistical Resources
- Dialysis-Associated Infections - Data & Statistics
- MRSA - Data & Statistics
- Intra-vascular Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections - Data & Statistics
- Protecting Healthcare Workers from Bloodborne Pathogens - Surveillance
- Surgical Site Infections - Data & Statistics
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)- Data & Statistics
- Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia - Data & Statistics
- VISA/VRSA - Data & Statistics
- VRE - Data & Statistics
Surveillance Definitions
- CDC/NHSN Surveillance Definition of Health Care–Associated Infection and Criteria for Specific Types of Infections in the Acute Care Setting June 2008 (1.33MB / 24 pages)
- APIC-HICPAC Surveillance Definition for Home Health Care and Home Hospice Infections, 2008 PDF (156KB / 13 pages)
- Case Definition for Infectious Conditions Under Public Health Surveillance MMWR 1997
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
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
Related Resources
- 2006 NHSN Report
Published: AJIC July 2007
PDF (285KB / 12 pages) - Outline for HAI Surveillance
April 2006 PDF (52KB / 8 pages)