An Examination of Longitudinal CAUTI, SSI, and CDI Rates from Key HHS Data Systems

Abstract

Although the data systems included in this study vary along the desirable data system dimensions we identified, trends in HAI rates are generally concordant across the data systems. This increases confidence in observed trends.

Denominator Doesn’t Matter: Standardizing Healthcare-Associated Infection Rates by Bed Days or Device Days

“…2,3,10 In contrast to increasing rates of CAUTI reported from administrative claims, our epidemiologic data show a decrease in CAUTI and CLABSI rates. 28,29 Our observed decrease in the rates of CAUTI and CLABSI across VHA hospitals is consistent with the NHSN report, which reported a 7% decline in CAUTI from 2009 to 2011 and a 41% decline in CLABSI from the figure 1. Infection rates and device utilization ratio by complexity level and year.…”

Utility of Electronic Medical Records to Assess the Relationship Between Parenteral Nutrition and Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections in Adult Hospitalized Patients

“…As has been recently confirmed, data regarding HAIs from a variety of national electronic data systems are quite robust, as they were in our data set as well 21 . On the other hand, despite increasing efforts to prevent HAIs such as CLABSIs, data on central line insertion site, type, date, and duration may be only partially or inaccurately documented in medical records, making it challenging to study these important variables.…”