AHRQ Cites Continuing Concerns About Hospital Infections in Annual Report

The annual report on healthcare safety shows little progress in eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reported in its 2009 quality report.

Rates of postoperative sepsis, bloodstream infections, increased 8 percent in 2009; postoperative catheter-associated urinary tract infections were up 3.6 percent; and rates were 1.6 percent higher for selected infections due to medical care, the report states.

No change was seen in bloodstream infections associated with central venous catheter placements, but rates of postoperative pneumonia decreased by 12 percent. And although rates are improving, blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans remain less likely than whites to receive preventive antibiotics prior to surgery in “a timely manner.”

"Despite promising improvements in a few areas of healthcare, we are not achieving the more substantial strides that are needed to address persistent gaps in quality and access," said AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. "Targeted AHRQ-funded research in Michigan has shown that infection rates of HAIs can be radically reduced. We are now working to make sure that happens in all hospitals."

The report can be found at www.ahrq.gov.