Preventing Healthcare-associated Infections
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) 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 and prevention successes.
HHS Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-associated Infections
The prevention and reduction of healthcare-associated infections is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS Steering Committee for the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections was established in July 2008, the Steering Committee, along with scientists and program officials across HHS, developed the HHS Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections, providing a roadmap for HAI prevention in acute care hospitals.
- HHS Action Plan to Prevent HAIs: Ambulatory surgical centers
- HHS Action Plan to Prevent HAIs: End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities
Outpatient Settings
Guide to Infection Prevention
Infection Prevention Checklist
The Infection Prevention Checklist – Minimum Expectations for Safe Care for Outpatient Settings [PDF - 396 KB] is a companion to the Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care. The checklist should be used for two purposes:
- To ensure that the facility has appropriate infection prevention policies and procedures in place and supplies to allow healthcare personnel to provide safe care.
- To systematically assess infection prevention practices of individual healthcare personnel.
- For more information visit Outpatient Settings
Dialysis Settings
- For more information visit Dialysis Safety
Long-Term Care Settings
- For more information visit Long-Term Care Settings
Dental Settings
- CDC. Kohn WG, Collins AS, Cleveland JL, et al. Guidelines for infection control in dental healthcare settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR17):1–61.
Correctional and Detention Facilities
- Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention Facilities: Recommendations from CDC 2006 [PDF - 588 KB] MMWR 2006; 55( No.RR-9)
Affordable Care Act
Protecting Healthcare Personnel
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Healthcare Settings The goal of this program is to increase the safety of the healthcare work environment and promote patient safety through improved use of PPE by healthcare personnel.
Publications
Guidelines and Recommendations based on the best available information. Infection control and strategies for surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare-associated infections.
Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) is a federal advisory committee that, as one of its primary functions, issues recommendations for preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infections in the form of guidelines, resolutions, and informal communications.
CDC Expert Commentary on Medscape
CDC Commentary: Healthcare-associated Infections --
A Continuing Threat to Public Health
In this video commentary from the CDC, Denise Cardo, MD, describes how evidence-based guidelines must be translated into practice to eliminate HAIs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), March 2010
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